Prevalence and risk factors of secondary traumatic stress in emergency call-takers and dispatchers – a cross-sectional study

Figures & data

Table 1. Descriptives of study variables and gender differences.

Study variables (range/code)		Total (N = 71)	Males (n = 61)	Females (n = 10)	Difference tests
		M (SD)	M (SD)	M (SD)	t	p	Cohen´s d
(1) Sec. traumatization (31–110)		46.71 (14.29)	46.17 (14.36)	50 (14.13)	–.79	.443	.27
(2) Depression (0–6)		1.20 (1.50)	1.13 (1.45)	1.60 (1.15)	–1.13	.445	.31
(3) Anxiety (0–6)		.75 (1.27)	.66 (1.78)	1.30 (1.83)	–1.08	.305	.51
(4) Age (22–51)		33.73 (7.17)	33.70 (7.03)	33.90 (8.37)	–.07	.946	.03
(5) Working years (0–26)		3.08 (4.86)	3.34 (5.18)	1.48 (1.17)	2.45	.017	.38
		n%	n%	n%	χ^2	p	Phi coeff
(6) Gender (0/1)			61 (85.9)	10 (14.1)
(7) Educational level (0–3)					2.13	.545	.17
	no school degree	3 (4.2)	3 (4.9)	0 (.0)
	Junior high school	8 (11.3)	8 (13.1)	0 (.0)
	Senior high school	30 (42.3)	25 (41)	5 (50)
	A- Level	30 (42.3)	25 (41)	5 (50)
Marital status (0–2)					.68	.713	.10
	Single	40 (56.3)	34 (55.7)	6 (60)
	Married	21 (29.6)	19 (31.1)	2 (20)
	Divorced	10 (14.1)	8 (13.1)	2 (20)
(8) Relationship status (0/1)		51 (71.8)	47 (77)	4 (40)	4.11	.041	−.29
(9) No. of children (0–3)					1.54	.672	.15
	no children	41 (57.7)	34 (55.7)	7 (70)
	1 child	12 (16.9)	10 (16.4)	2 (20)
	2 children	15 (21.1)	14 (23)	1 (10)
	3 children	3 (4.2)	3 (4.9)	0 (.0)
Function					2.38	.299	.18
	emergency call takers and dispatchers	54 (76.1)	48 (78.7)	6 (60)
	dispatchers	11 (15.5)	9 (14.8)	2 (20)
	call takers	6 (8.5)	4 (6.6)	2 (20)
Degree of training					.33	.952	.07
	no training	1 (1.4)	1 (2.6)	0 (.0)
	rescue paramedics	15 (20.8)	13 (21.3)	2 (20.0)
	rescue assistants	44 (61.1)	38 (62.3)	6 (60.0)
	emergency paramedics	11 (15.3)	9 (14.8)	2 (20)
PTSD cut-off (0/1)		8 (11.3)	5 (8.2)	3 (30)	4.08	.042	.24
STS cut-off (0–2)					2.26	.324	.17
	0	63 (88.7)	55 (90.2)	8 (80)
	1 (moderate)	6 (8.5)	4 (6.6)	2 (20)
	2 (severe)	2 (2.8)	2 (3.3)	0 (.0)
Depression cut-off (0/1)		11 (15.5)	9 (14.8)	2 (20)	.18	.671	.05
Anxiety cut-off (0/1)		5 (7)	4 (6.6)	1 (10)	.16	.693	.05
(10) Secure attachment (0/1)		39 (54.9)	38 (62.3)	1 (10)	9.49	.002	−.37
(11) Dismissive-a. attachment (0/1)		16 (22.5)	11 (18)	5 (50)	5.03	.025	.27
Fearful-a. attachment (0/1)		2 (2.8)	0 (.0)	2 (20)	12.55	<.001	42
Preoccupied attachment (0/1)		2 (2.8)	2 (3.3)	0 (.0)	.34	.561	−.07

Numbers in front of variables correspond to numbers in Table 2.

Table 2. Means, standard deviations, percentage rates, and bivariate correlations.

Variable (range)	M | %	SD	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
1. STS (31–110)	46.71	14.29
2. Depression (0–6)	1.20	1.50	.62**
3. Anxiety (0–6)	.75	1.27	.70**	.59**
4. Gender (male = 0)	85.9		.09	.11	.18
5. Age (22–51)	33.73	7.17	−.20	−.16	−.07	.01
6. Educational level (0–3)	2.23	.81	.07	.09	−.06	.17	−.31**
7. Working years (0–26)	3.08	4.86	−.13	−.12	−.07	−.13	.39**	−.06
8. Relationship (0/1)	71.8		−.19	−.09	−.08	−.29*	.03	.28	.10
9. No. of children (0–3)	.72	.94	−.11	−.31**	−.05	.15	.45**	−.14	.25*	.31
10. Secure attachment (0/1)	54.9		−.24	−.15	−.14	−.37**	.11	.14	.19	.31**	.30
11. Dismiss.-a. attachment (0/1)	22.5		.10	.02	−.08	.27*	.04	.11	−.07	−.34**	.16	−.60**

M and SD are used to represent mean and standard deviation, respectively. Percentages for nominal variables. Person-, Spearman- and Phi- Coefficients with significant correlations at *p < .05, **p < .01. In framed areas Eta coefficients are shown with Eta < .01 = no correlation, Eta between .01 and .04 = small correlation, Eta between .04 and.16 = medium correlation, and Eta > .16 = large correlation.

Table 3. Regression results using secondary traumatic stress as the criterion.

Independent variables	B	SE B	β	p
(Intercept)	49.58	6.73	.00	<.001
Gender	–3.13	2.83	−.08	.274
Age	–.29	.15	–.15	.054
Educational level	1.46	1.20	.08	.229
Working years	–.07	.21	−.02	.748
Relationship	–3.38	2.25	–.11	.138
No. of children	2.94	1.19	.19	.017
Depression	2.53	.77	.26	.002
Anxiety	5.69	.90	.51	<.001
Secure attachment	–5.70	2.44	–.20	.023
Dismiss.-a. attachment	–1.42	2.79	–.04	.613
Model fit
Pseudo weighted R^2	.62
Likelihood ratio test χ^2 (df)	70.94 (−10)			<.001

B represents unstandardized regression weights. SE = standard error.

β represents standardized regression weights.

Pseudo weighted R² sensu Willett and Singer (1988).

Willett, J. B., & Singer, J. D. (1988). Another cautionary note about R 2: Its use in weighted least-squares regression analysis. The American Statistician, 42(3), 236–238.

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