FIRE FIGHTERS' COGNITIVE APPRAISALS OF JOB CONCERNS, THREATS TO WELL-BEING, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT BEFORE AND AFTER THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

Abstract

This investigation analyzed fire fighters' cognitive appraisals of job concerns, threats to personal well-being, and social support in two different temporal and trauma exposure contexts: day-to-day exposures to emergency calls 6 months prior to September 11, 2001, and vicarious exposure to the terrorist attacks 1 week following 9/11. The 73 participants provided data as part of an ongoing longitudinal, prospective study. The results showed significant differences between the two time periods on 6 of 10 variables examined (all p values < .05). That is, vicarious exposure to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 resulted in increased job concerns and personal threats to well-being when compared with direct exposure to day-to-day responses to emergency trauma. The most significant differences were on measures of personal competence and personal concerns about duty-related injury, disability, or death. Similarly, 5 of the 10 study variables were significantly correlated with trauma symptoms prior to the terrorist attacks, and 6 of the 10 variables were significantly correlated with trauma symptoms 1 week after the attacks. Implications of these findings are discussed.

This project was supported by Grants R01-OHO3198 and R18-OHO3559 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), both awarded to Randal Beaton, principal investigator. This publication was also made possible by Grant 1 T01HP01412-01-00 from the Health Resources and Service Administration, Public Health Training Center Program. Finally, this project was supported under a cooperative agreement from the CDC through the Association of Schools of Public Health (Grant U36/CCU300430-21).

Notes

∗p < .05; ^∗∗ p < .01; ^∗∗∗ p < .001.

Note. IES M and SD 6 months prior to 9/11: 12.15 (16.85). IES M and SD 1 week after 9/11: 21.64 (20.73). (∗p < .05; ^∗∗ p < .01; ^∗∗∗ p < .001.