The Association of Alcohol Problems with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Psychological Hardiness and the Ways of Coping in Firefighters

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the association between alcohol problems and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, psychological hardiness, and coping mechanisms in firefighters. Methods: We conducted an e-mail survey of 131 firefighters who were working at the two fire department stations in Gyeonggido, receiving replies from 96. Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Hardiness Scale, and The Ways of Coping Checklist were used to collect the data. We divided the subjects into three drinking groups per their AUDIT scores : social, problem, and abuse drinking groups and compared PTSD symptoms, psychological hardiness, and coping strategies among the groups. Results: Of the 96 firefighters, 73 (76.1%), 11 (11.4%), and 12 (11.4%) belonged to the social, problem, and abuse drinking groups, respectively. Control, one component of psychological hardiness, was significantly lower in the abuse drinking group. However, IES-R scores and four subscales of the Ways of Coping Checklist did not vary significantly among the groups. Conclusion: These results suggest an approach focused on psychological hardiness should show a preventive effect with regard to firefighters’ alcohol problems.