Social support, self-efficacy, trauma and well-being in emergency medical dispatchers

Journal article


Shakespeare-Finch, Jane, Rees, Amanda and Armstrong, Deanne. (2015). Social support, self-efficacy, trauma and well-being in emergency medical dispatchers. Social Indicators Research. 123(2), pp. 549 - 565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-014-0749-9
AuthorsShakespeare-Finch, Jane, Rees, Amanda and Armstrong, Deanne
Abstract

Emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) respond to crisis calls for ambulance; they dispatch paramedics and provide emotional and medical assistance to callers. Despite the stressful nature and exposure to potentially traumatising events in this role, there has been no published research specifically investigating well-being or posttraumatic growth among EMDs. Extrapolating from research conducted among other emergency services workers (e.g., paramedics, police), literature attests to the importance of self efficacy and social support in promoting mental health in emergency service workers. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of self efficacy, and giving and receiving social support on psychological well-being, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sixty EMDs (50 % response rate) completed an online questionnaire. Three hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to ascertain predictors of well-being, PTG and PTSD. Receiving social support emerged as a significant positive predictor of well-being and PTG, and a significant negative predictor of PTSD. Self efficacy was found to significantly and positively predict well-being, and shift-work was found to significantly and negatively predict PTSD. These results highlight that self efficacy and receiving social support are likely to be important for enhancing well-being within this population, and that receiving social support is also likely to facilitate positive post-trauma responses. Such findings have implications for the way emergency service personnel are educated with reference to aspects of mental health and how best to support personnel in order to achieve optimal mental health outcomes for all.

Year2015
JournalSocial Indicators Research
Journal citation123 (2), pp. 549 - 565
ISSN0303-8300
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-014-0749-9
Page range549 - 565
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/88z49/social-support-self-efficacy-trauma-and-well-being-in-emergency-medical-dispatchers

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 95
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 6
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

The impact of personality and workplace belongingness on mental health workers' professional quality of life
Somoray, Klaire, Shakespeare-Finch, Jane and Armstrong, Deanne. (2017). The impact of personality and workplace belongingness on mental health workers' professional quality of life. Australian Psychologist. 52(1), pp. 52 - 60. https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12182
Promoting posttraumatic growth in police recruits: Preliminary results of a randomised controlled resilience intervention trial
Shakespeare-Finch, Jane, Shochet, Ian, Roos, Colette, Craig, Cameron, Armstrong, Deanne Maree, Young, Ross and Wurfl, Astrid. (2014). Promoting posttraumatic growth in police recruits: Preliminary results of a randomised controlled resilience intervention trial. Australia and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference. Australia: Association for Sustainability in Business Inc.. pp. 1 - 18
An interpretative phenomenological analysis of stress and well-being in emergency medical dispatchers
Adams, Kaye, Shakespeare-Finch, Jane and Armstrong, Deanne. (2013). An interpretative phenomenological analysis of stress and well-being in emergency medical dispatchers. Journal of Loss and Trauma. 20(5), pp. 430 - 448. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2014.949141
Trauma type and posttrauma outcomes: Differences between survivors of motor vehicle accidents, sexual assault, and bereavement
Shakespeare-Finch, Jane and Armstrong, Deanne. (2010). Trauma type and posttrauma outcomes: Differences between survivors of motor vehicle accidents, sexual assault, and bereavement. Journal of Loss and Trauma. 15(2), pp. 69 - 82. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325020903373151