Abstract

FONSECA, Sílvia Monteiro; CUNHA, Sónia; CAMPOS, Rui  and  QUEIROS, Cristina. Stress and trauma in pre-hospital medical emergency: dysfunctional coping as mediator. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2020, vol.21, n.1, pp.176-182. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/20psd210126.

Dysfunctional coping plays an important role for the development of trauma symptoms, which as a significant impact on rescuers’ psychological health. Thus, research needs to deepen the knowledge about the role played by dysfunctional coping within the relationship between perceived stress and trauma. This study aims to analyze direct and indirect effects of dysfunctional coping in the relation perceived stress/trauma in emergency medical technicians (EMTs), as well as their variation according to socio-professional characteristics. Method: Brief Cope, Impact of Event-Scale Revised and Anxiety Depression and Stress Scale were applied to 503 EMTs (66% men). They had an average of 34.87 years (SD = 5.36) and 7.65 years of professional experience (SD = 3.84). Results: High levels of stress were found in women and in EMTs with more professional experience. Women also displayed more dysfunctional coping and professionals with more experience presented more trauma. Dysfunctional coping partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress and trauma. Discussion: Data allowed to understand the contribution of dysfunctional coping on the evolution of stress in trauma. Therefore, it is important to develop programs and interventions aimed at reducing dysfunctional coping strategies.

Keywords : Stress; Trauma; Dysfunctional Coping; Pre-Hospital Medical Emergency.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )