Emergency workers' cognitive appraisal and coping with traumatic events

摘要: Police, fire, emergency medical and hospital personnel were surveyed following two disasters in the same county: An apartment building explosion followed 1 year later by a devastating tornado. They completed symptom checklist, Coping Inventory, rated extent of their support networks. Reported symptoms revealed clinically significant emotional effects postdisaster. More post-traumatic reported theory emphasizing cognitive appraisal was used as conceptual framework for studying adjustment strategies. Workers' comments illustrated processes intervening between events reactions to them. The most frequently endorsed coping strategies both involved attempts reach mastery over event ascertain meaning. Strategies altering activities finding new interests not endorsed. A greater number responses tornado along with which seeking from others. Factor analysis Inventory four factors: meaning, regaining through individual action, interpersonal philosophical self-contemplation.