Buffering PTSD in Canine Search and Rescue Teams? Associations with Resilience, Sense of Coherence, and Societal Acknowledgment

Milena Kaufmann, Matthias Gelb and Mareike Augsburger
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Milena Kaufmann: Division of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zurich, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland
Matthias Gelb: TCRH Training Center Rescue and Help Mosbach, 74821 Mosbach, Germany
Mareike Augsburger: Division of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zurich, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-12

Abstract: Rescue workers present an elevated risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and recently, research has begun to focus on coping styles and social support as protective factors in this population. Associations in the particular group of search and rescue dog handlers still lack evidence. The aim of the study is to investigate if functional cognitions and social support also decrease the risk for PTSD. Active voluntary rescue dog handlers ( n = 116) rated levels of resilience, sense of coherence, and social acknowledgment (SAQ; subscales general disapproval, familial disapproval, recognition), in addition to a trauma checklist and PTSD symptoms. Linear regression analyses and two different graph models were calculated to explore associations, as well as potential pathways. Controlling for trauma exposure, the SAQ general disapproval emerged as the only significant predictor in the regression model. In the graph models, SAQ familial disapproval was linked to SAQ recognition and SAQ general disapproval. The latter, together with a sense of coherence manageability, affected PTSD re-experiencing symptoms through resilience. The findings are in line with earlier work. The study underlines the importance of targeting resilience and manageability, as well as enhancing social support in prevention programs for PTSD in canine search and rescue teams. Future research is warranted to further investigate model stability and replicate findings.

Keywords: posttraumatic stress disorder; social acknowledgment; resilience; sense of coherence; canine search and rescue teams (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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