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Med. Pr. 2007;58(4):307-316

TYPE D PERSONALITY, COPING WITH STRESS AND INTENSITY OF PTSD SYMPTOMS IN FIREFIGHTERS

OSOBOWOśĆ TYPU D I STRATEGIE RADZENIA SOBIE ZE STRESEM A NASILENIE OBJAWÓW PTSD W GRUPIE STRAŻAKÓW

N. Ogińska-Bulik, I. Langer

Abstract

Background: Personality traits and coping strategies are regarded as determinants of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in persons who have experienced a traumatic event. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between type D personality, coping strategies, and PTSD symptoms. Material and Methods: A group of 190 firefighters of life-saving units of the State Fire Brigade, Łódź, participated in the study. Their mean age was 33.5 years and their mean duration of employment was 9.2 years. Survey, the Impact Event Scale, the DS14 scale, and Mini-COPE were used as the study techniques. Results: The data obtained from the study confirm the relationship of both dimensions, comprising type D personality and maladaptive strategies with the increased level of PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: A tendency to experience strong negative emotions (negative affectivity) and coping strategies, such as self-distraction and behavioral disengagement increase the intensity of PTSD symptoms, intrusion in general, and hyperarousal in particular. Med Pr 2007;58(4):307ś316

Key words

type D personality, coping with stress, posttraumatic stress disorder, firefighters