Conference presentation
Organisational factors influencing post-traumatic stress disorder among parademics
The Association of Industrial Relations Academics in Australia and New Zealand Conference (Adelaide, Australia, 07/02/2018–09/02/2018)
08/02/2018
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Abstract
Research questions: Paramedics have a higher prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than that among the general population (22% vs approximately 5%)(Hegg-Deloye et al., 2014) and that amongst firefighters (22% vs 8%) (Del Ben, Scotti, Chen, & Fortson, 2006). Whether the prevalence of PTSD varies across different places of work, and if PTSD is associated with workplaces’ psychosocial safety climate (PSC) among paramedics, is under-researched.
Theoretical focus: In PSC theory, it is posited that employees and senior managers interact to shape organisational policies, procedures, and practices for psychological health and safety, which determine the psychological and safety working climate (Dollard & Bakker, 2010). PSC may reduce the adverse impact of job demands (Bailey, Dollard, McLinton, & Richards, 2015; Law, Dollard, Tuckey, & Dormann, 2011). Based on this theory, it was hypothesised that work is associated with PTSD and a higher level of work PSC would reduce the prevalence of PTSD among paramedics.
Methods: This research used a cross-sectional design and administered phone-based self-report questionnaires to collect data from 441 stratified, randomly selected paramedics. The place of work was a geographic criterion listed as metropolitan, regional, or rural. The Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC-12) (Hall, Dollard, & Coward, 2010) and DSM-IV diagnostic criteria (Breslau, Peterson, Kessler, & Schultz, 1999) were used as measures. Descriptive analysis and bivariate correlation analysis were used for data analysis.
Major conclusions: PTSD prevalence is significantly high among those working in rural areas. Work PSC is significantly positively associated with PTSD. More investigation into human resource management and its relationships with PTSD is recommended for future research.
Details
- Title
- Organisational factors influencing post-traumatic stress disorder among parademics
- Creators
- Tiet Hanh Dao Tran - The University of QueenslandKeith Townsend - Griffith UniversityAdrian Wilkinson - Griffith UniversityRebecca Loundoun - Griffith University
- Conference
- The Association of Industrial Relations Academics in Australia and New Zealand Conference (Adelaide, Australia, 07/02/2018–09/02/2018)
- Identifiers
- 991013357512602368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Conference presentation