NCJ Number
173176
Journal
Policing Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: 1998 Pages: 178-191
Date Published
1998
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This exploratory study had two broad objectives: to determine the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in New Zealand police officers, and to examine the relationship between traumatic events and PTSD symptoms.
Abstract
Additional research issues were whether PTSD symptoms among police officers are related to trauma experienced while on duty, and what types of traumatic experience are most likely to be related to PTSD symptoms. To address these issues, 1,000 police officers who worked in one geographical region of New Zealand were surveyed by questionnaire. A return rate of 52 percent yielded a sample of 527 officers. The survey solicited demographic information and information on respondents' experience of PTSD and traumatic events. The civilian version of the Mississippi PTSD scale was used to survey PTSD symptoms related to non-specific traumatic experiences in a non-military population. The traumatic stress schedule (Norris, 1990; Norris, 1992) was used as a basis for the collection of data on past traumatic events. Data analysis shows that the prevalence of PTSD symptoms in this sample of officers is similar to that in other civilian populations who have experienced a traumatic event. As in these populations, most individuals recovered from trauma and did not develop disorder; however, for the percentage who did have difficulties, an increase in the number of work-related traumatic experiences was associated with higher PTSD symptoms, and the particular traumatic experiences that were related to PTSD were more likely to be part of police work. The findings provide additional support for the notion of cumulative effects on symptomatology of increasing numbers of traumatic experiences and have important implications for organizations in which employees are likely to suffer periodic or chronic exposure to traumatic events. 4 tables and 29 references