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1 – 10 of over 76000The Impact of Events Scale (IES)/Impact of Events Scale – Revised (IES‐R) is arguably one of the most well known tools used to assess post‐traumatic symptomatology. The background…
Abstract
Purpose
The Impact of Events Scale (IES)/Impact of Events Scale – Revised (IES‐R) is arguably one of the most well known tools used to assess post‐traumatic symptomatology. The background literature reveals a significant gap with respect to the structural properties of the IES/IES‐R when used with emergency service populations. In response to these identified gaps, this paper aims to provide an evaluation of the structural properties of the three‐factor IES‐R when used specifically with a firefighting sample.
Design/methodology/approach
Responses to IES‐R for a sample of paid‐professional firefighters (n=94) and a sample of similar comparison participants (n=91) were evaluated for support of the suggested IES‐R subscales – i.e. hyperarousal, avoidance and intrusions. Responses for both groups were entered into a three‐factor maximum likelihood factor analysis with direct oblimin rotation.
Findings
The results provide further support for the use of these subscales when the IES‐R is employed with a community sample. However, the factor structure for the three suggested subscales was not supported for the firefighters' responses. With the firefighting sample, some items for the intrusion subscale loaded as expected, but no discernible pattern was evident for the hyperarousal or avoidance subscales. Given the lack of support for a three‐factor structure with the firefighting sample, scree plot analysis was used to suggest that a two‐factor solution may provide the best fit solution. The two‐factor solution revealed a construct described as general “post‐traumatic symptomatology” and a potential second factor described as “sleep”.
Originality/value
The author suggests a conservative approach to using the IES‐R with first responder samples, in particular firefighters, and recommends the use of an overall score in place of subscale scores. This recommendation is suggested as a temporary approach until additional research can be completed to further evaluate the present lack of support for the three IES‐R subscales when used with a firefighting sample.
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Oi Byung Park, Hyuk Im and Chongmin Na
Drawing on survey data from South Korean police officers, the purpose of this paper is to explore the mediation effects of coping self-efficacy and social support in the…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on survey data from South Korean police officers, the purpose of this paper is to explore the mediation effects of coping self-efficacy and social support in the relationship between the impact of traumatic events and resilience. Additionally, the moderation effects were assessed to examine how this relationship varies by the state of police officers’ mental health.
Design/methodology/approach
Both multiple mediation and multiple group models within the structural equation modeling framework were adopted to assess the proposed mediating and moderating effects.
Findings
Traumatic events affect resilience not just directly but also indirectly through mediating factors such as coping self-efficacy and social support. These patterns are more pronounced in the high-risk mental health group than in the normal group.
Practical implications
If exposure to traumatic events were an unavoidable aspect of police work, helping officers build resilience as a general capacity to overcome stressful situations would be an effective strategy to prevent many negative consequences associated with the traumatic events. This study examined specific causal mechanisms linking the impact of traumatic events to resilience to better understand the process of developing resilience among police officers.
Originality/value
Instead of further examining the relationship between impact of traumatic events and other physical and mental outcomes, this study attempted to expand the current literature by identifying important mediating and moderating mechanisms that reduce the negative influences of traumatic events on resilience.
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Lyndal Hickey, Louise Harms and Lauren Kosta
This paper examines the empirical research on police reassurance following a collective trauma event (CTE).
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the empirical research on police reassurance following a collective trauma event (CTE).
Design/methodology/approach
Using a scoping review methodology, this paper sought to establish the extent, range and nature of published literature on policing responses to collective traumatic events, and to identify key features of this form of direct practice. Included papers needed to focus on police responses oeassurance with the public related to events (pre-or post) that could be regarded as collective trauma events by nature or scale. Searches were conducted using the Web of Science, SCOPUS and PsychINFO databases for literature published between January 2000 and December 2019.
Findings
Fourteen articles met the inclusion criteria. The key themes identified: (1) measuring the impact of reassurance and community policing; (2) community attitudes to policing and social disorder/critical events; (3) police workforce responses to traumatic events; and (4) interventions to support police to respond to their community.
Research limitations/implications
Future research needs to examine the elements that create a robust organisational infrastructure that can withstand the demands of policing in ordinary and extraordinary times. Fundamental to the studies in this review is the relationship between the police agencies and the community. The nature of this relationship and how it can be strengthened to ameliorate the negative impact of CTEs in communities needs further exploration.
Originality/value
This paper provides important findings that can inform future reassurance policing practice and research.
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Hazel McBride and Carol Ireland
– The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of coping style, self-efficacy, resilience and emotional reaction of trauma-related intrusions in young offenders.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of coping style, self-efficacy, resilience and emotional reaction of trauma-related intrusions in young offenders.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a quantitative study using questionnaires. The sample was 152 young offenders in custody who were approached in their residential hall. Upon agreeing to participate they were given 24 hours to complete the questionnaire pack and returned these to the researcher at a designated time and place.
Findings
Over 90 per cent of the sample indicated at least one traumatic event; 33.6 per cent indicated eight or more. Number of traumatic events did not impact on self-efficacy, resilience or coping strategy used. The type of coping strategy did not significantly impact on emotional reaction to intrusions across trauma groups. Participants with higher self-efficacy demonstrated greater problem-focused coping and less emotional reaction to intrusions. Participants with greater resilience scores utilised more problem and emotion-focused coping and experienced less emotional reaction to their intrusions. Resilience was predicted by self-efficacy and emotional reaction to intrusions.
Practical implications
Professionals working with young offenders with trauma-related intrusions should focus on building strengths in the areas of problem-focused coping, self-efficacy and resilience.
Originality/value
This paper adds to the literature on trauma in male young offenders by looking at psychological factors which could be developed upon to improve ability to manage intrusive thoughts.
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Carmen C. Moran and Neil R. Britton
Coping style has been examined across a variety of stressful encounters,but surprisingly little is known about coping in the emergency ordisaster context. Examines coping…
Abstract
Coping style has been examined across a variety of stressful encounters, but surprisingly little is known about coping in the emergency or disaster context. Examines coping strategies and impact of events in emergency workers who generally have not been exposed to major events in the course of their emergency role. The profile of scores suggests that emergency workers are problem‐focused and are less inclined to assuage problems through emotion‐focused coping, thus supporting the popular notion of emergency workers as task‐oriented and committed to action. Discusses the extent to which this profile may enhance wellbeing and prevent stress symptoms following emergency events.
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Hafiz Muhammad Asif, Hafiz Abdul Sattar Hashmi, Rabia Zahid, Khalil Ahmad and Halima Nazar
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychosocial impact during the current epidemic situation of COVID-19 in Pakistan.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychosocial impact during the current epidemic situation of COVID-19 in Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 1,149 respondents were recruited in the study. Mental health status and psychological impact of COVID-19 outbreak were measured by impact of events scale–revised (IES-R) instrument and depression, anxiety and stress scales (DASS-21), respectively.
Findings
Results of IES-R revealed moderate or severe psychological impact in 13.05% respondents (score > 33). DAAS score revealed that severe and extremely severe depression (score: 21–42), anxiety (score: 15–42) and stress (score: 27–42) were reported in 6.35%, 6.87% and 2.78% respondents, respectively. Higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression were recorded in female gender, student, medical professionals, farmer and daily wages employed, exhibiting significant (p < 0.05) association with psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Majority of respondents received increased support, shared feeling and family care.
Originality/value
Mild to moderate psychological impact on mental health status was recorded in this study, which enables further planning and opportunities for health authorities to design psychological interventions for the improvement of negative psychological impact of COVID-19 epidemic in vulnerable groups.
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Nisan Yozukmaz, Serkan Bertan and Serap Alkaya
Interactions between local people and guests/visitors are the main elements of tourism experience. And local festivals, considered as a significant part of festival tourism, are…
Abstract
Purpose
Interactions between local people and guests/visitors are the main elements of tourism experience. And local festivals, considered as a significant part of festival tourism, are quite important in this context. Though many studies have been conducted about interaction between local residents and guests tourists, emotional solidarity remains as a concept which has not yet been studied much in tourism literature on local festivals. The aim of this study is to examine emotional solidarity in tourism festival literature and to determine the relationships between perceptions of local people related to social impacts of festivals and emotional solidarity they feel for guests/visitors.
Design/methodology/approach
In line with this purpose, a quantitative approach was adopted, and 19th weaving, culture and handicrafts festival held in Buldan was chosen to be studied as it is an important festival for local people dwelling in Buldan, Denizli province located in Aegean Region in Turkey. The study data were obtained through questionnaire method conducted with Buldan residents during the 19th festival (June, 28th–30th, 2019). The sample was determined with random sampling method.
Findings
The data were analyzed via factor and regression analyses. As a result of factor analysis, social impacts of the festivals were grouped under 6 factors (under 3 subfactors of social benefits: communal benefits, cultural–educational benefits, social unity benefits; under 3 subfactors of social costs: concerns related to social resources, concerns related to life quality and concerns related to social order).
Practical implications
Local people's perceptions of social impacts of festivals must be determined in order to find their impacts on emotional solidarity, and deficiencies must be remedied. Local governments who organize festivals to invigorate local economies usually try to attract more visitors with the purpose of maximizing economic impacts of festivals, and this is done without placing much importance on the social problems and social change that may arise in the future (Crandall, 1994).
Originality/value
Relationships were determined between emotional solidarity and residents' perceptions towards social and cultural–educational benefits as well as their concerns related to social resources and life quality.
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Shem Wambugu Maingi and Vanessa G. B. Gowreesunkar
Family events have unique significance on children as well as long-lasting impacts on them during their adulthood. A review of conceptual and theoretical literature on the subject…
Abstract
Family events have unique significance on children as well as long-lasting impacts on them during their adulthood. A review of conceptual and theoretical literature on the subject was conducted to identify underlying trends and best practices in engaging children in the events industry. Societies are in transition from industrialised societies into risk societies and are increasingly becoming eco-socialised. Family events are integral towards developing inclusive and integrated societies and in realising Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16). Childhood is always eco-socialised, i.e. socially, economically and ecologically integrated with other forms of life. To the extent that childhood nostalgia forms the basis for future sustainable events and tourism choices. Family events are, therefore, increasingly becoming fundamental towards developing sustainability discourse. This viewpoint chapter provides conceptual and theoretical perspective on the roles and impacts of childhood research in sustainability discourse.
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Martin Gächter, Davd A. Savage and Benno Torgler
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of social capital with the negative externalities associated with stress, or the psychological and physiological strains…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of social capital with the negative externalities associated with stress, or the psychological and physiological strains experienced by police officers.
Design/methodology/approach
Using data collected in 1999 from a survey of Baltimore Police officers designed to examine questions about the relationship between police stress and domestic violence in police families and using multivariate regression analysis, the paper focuses on five different proxies for stress and strain, and two proxies for social capital and conducting several robustness checks.
Findings
Results show that an increase in social capital is significantly correlated to a decrease in the level of strain, in the psychological, physical, burnout and health areas.
Research limitations/implications
While this study examines the social capital/strain relationship with US officers, more research is needed, as these findings may not extrapolate well into other national settings. It may also be interesting to further explore sub‐cultures within departments. Additionally, the data may be dated and, as major changes and events have occurred since the survey, a newer study of officers would be needed to observe whether these changes have had significant impact.
Practical implications
From a policy perspective, the findings suggest that stress reduction programs should actively engage employees to build stronger social networks.
Originality/value
This study comprehensively examines the ability of social capital at negating the impacts of strains, and significantly reduces the impact of major trauma events. This paper adds to the literature as there are few multivariate analyses of the social capital/strain relationship.
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Mona O'Moore and Niall Crowley
This paper aims to evaluate the subjective experience with associated clinical and health effects on workers subjected to persistent harassment in the workplace. The study also…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate the subjective experience with associated clinical and health effects on workers subjected to persistent harassment in the workplace. The study also attempts to explore an a priori hypothesised personality/clinical effects model of workplace bullying, identifying the relationships between relevant variables using structural equation modelling (SEM).
Design/methodology/approach
The sample represents 100 individual psychological assessments conducted by professional psychologists at an Anti‐bullying research and resource centre. The quantitative results are based on robust psychometric inventories. The conceptual models were tested using the software LISREL 8.7.
Findings
Results indicate elevated overall psychometric scores on all psychological and physical health inventories. The constructed a priori model was conceived based on grounded theoretical literature which assessed the moderating impact of individual factors such as personality on the severity of clinical effect, thought to be as a result of workplace bullying. Using a strictly confirmatory approach, however, all tested models were not adequate fits.
Social implications
Results of this study have implications for the prevention and intervention of workplace bullying both of which need to be intensified in order to minimise the physical and psychological ill effects of victimisation in the workplace. One of the key messages of this study is that the severity of the clinical effect may not relate to a person's character, but rather to the traumatic experience of bullying itself. The findings suggest that action is needed at an organizational level as explanations with regards to the intensity of psychological health outcomes may not be found in the constitution of one's personality.
Originality/value
This is a unique study that looks specifically at personality as a potential moderating factor of psychological and physical health in relation to workplace bullying.
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