Journal of Occupational
Health and Epidemiology
Rafsanjan university Of medical sciences
Volume 12, Issue 2 (Spring 2023)
J Occup Health Epidemiol 2023, 12(2): 98-104 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Park K, Ko Y, Han S, Ha Y. The Effects of a Self-Disclosure Program Using Expressive Writing on Optimism, Problem-Focused Coping, Deliberate Rumination, and Posttraumatic Growth of Korean Firefighters with Rescue-Firefighting Duties: A Pilot Study. J Occup Health Epidemiol 2023; 12 (2) :98-104
URL: http://johe.rums.ac.ir/article-1-652-en.html
URL: http://johe.rums.ac.ir/article-1-652-en.html
Related article in
Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Similar articles
1- Professor, Dept. of Preventive Medicine & Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
2- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Nursing, Kyungbuk College, Yeongju, Republic of Korea.
3- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Nursing, University of Gyeongnam Geochang, Geochang, Republic of Korea.
4- Prof., College of Nursing & Institute of Medical Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea ,yha@gnu.ac.kr
2- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Nursing, Kyungbuk College, Yeongju, Republic of Korea.
3- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Nursing, University of Gyeongnam Geochang, Geochang, Republic of Korea.
4- Prof., College of Nursing & Institute of Medical Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea ,
Article history
Received: 2022/10/19
Accepted: 2023/04/12
ePublished: 2023/06/28
Accepted: 2023/04/12
ePublished: 2023/06/28
Subject:
Occupational Health
Abstract: (596 Views)
Background: Firefighters are frequently exposed to job-related traumatic events that may have negative health consequences. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a self-disclosure program using expressive writing to enhance firefighters' positive psychological improvements.
Materials and Methods: Allowing for attrition, 28 firefighters working in rescue-firefighting duties were recruited from five fire stations in Changwon in 2018. An experimental group received the self-disclosure program, in which expressive writing consisted of four sessions for enhancing post-traumatic growth. Participants filled out the Life Orientation Test-Revised Optimism Scale, the Korean version of the Brief COPE for problem-focused coping, the Korean version of the Event-Related Ruminating Scale to measure ruminative thinking, and the Korean version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory to measure posttraumatic development. The data were analyzed by frequency, mean and standard deviation, and paired t-test using the SPSS/WIN 26.0 program. The significance level of alpha was .05.
Results: Male participants in rescue-firefighting duties participated, and worked as firefighters for an average of 13.57 years. There were significant differences between pretest and posttest findings on optimism (t=2.60, p=.016), problem-focused coping (t=2.51, p=.019), and deliberate rumination (t=2.32, p=.029). It indicated that the experimental group's optimism, problem-focused coping, and deliberate rumination significantly increased after participating in the expressive writing program.
Conclusion: The self-disclosure program using expressive writing is effective for firefighters with job-related traumatic events by developing positive psychological changes. It is advised that a chief fire officer should
Materials and Methods: Allowing for attrition, 28 firefighters working in rescue-firefighting duties were recruited from five fire stations in Changwon in 2018. An experimental group received the self-disclosure program, in which expressive writing consisted of four sessions for enhancing post-traumatic growth. Participants filled out the Life Orientation Test-Revised Optimism Scale, the Korean version of the Brief COPE for problem-focused coping, the Korean version of the Event-Related Ruminating Scale to measure ruminative thinking, and the Korean version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory to measure posttraumatic development. The data were analyzed by frequency, mean and standard deviation, and paired t-test using the SPSS/WIN 26.0 program. The significance level of alpha was .05.
Results: Male participants in rescue-firefighting duties participated, and worked as firefighters for an average of 13.57 years. There were significant differences between pretest and posttest findings on optimism (t=2.60, p=.016), problem-focused coping (t=2.51, p=.019), and deliberate rumination (t=2.32, p=.029). It indicated that the experimental group's optimism, problem-focused coping, and deliberate rumination significantly increased after participating in the expressive writing program.
Conclusion: The self-disclosure program using expressive writing is effective for firefighters with job-related traumatic events by developing positive psychological changes. It is advised that a chief fire officer should
Keywords: Firefighters [MeSH], Post-traumatic Growth [MeSH], Coping [MeSH], Rumination [MeSH], Optimism [MeSH]
References
1. Kehl D, Knuth D, Hulse L, Schmidt S; BeSeCu-Group. Predictors of postevent distress and growth among firefighters after work-related emergencies: A cross-national study. Psychol Trauma. 2015;7(3):203-11. [DOI] [PMID]
2. Stanley IH, Hom MA, Joiner TE. A systematic review of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics. Clin Psychol Rev. 2016;44:25-44. [DOI] [PMID]
3. Sahebi A, Yousefi K, Moayedi S, Golitaleb N, Vardanjani AE, Golitaleb M. Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder among firefighters in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Iran J Psychiatry. 2020;15(4):358-65. [DOI] [PMID] []
4. Calhoun LG, Tedeschi RG. The foundation of posttraumatic growth: An expanded framework. In: Calhoun LG. Tedeschi RG editors. Handbook of posttraumatic growth: Research and practice. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 2006. P.1-23.
5. Calhoun L, Tedeschi RG. Posttraumatic growth in clinical practice. New York: Routledge; 2013. P.56-101. [DOI]
6. Ogińska-Bulik N, Kobylarczyk M. Association between resiliency and posttraumatic growth in firefighters: The role of stress appraisal. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2016;22(1):40-8. [DOI] [PMID] []
7. Pavlovic JM, Buchanan EM, Maxwell NP, Hopke TG, Schulenberg SE. A meta-analysis of expressive writing on posttraumatic stress, posttraumatic growth, and quality of life. Rev Gen Psychol. 2019;23(2):230-50. [DOI]
8. Pennebaker JW. Writing about emotional experiences as a therapeutic process. Psychol Sci. 1997;8(3):162-6. [DOI]
9. Pennebaker JW, Zech E, Rimé B. Disclosing and sharing emotion: Psychological, social, and health consequences. In: Stroebe MS, Hansson RO, Stroebe W, Schut H. Handbook of bereavement research: Consequences, coping, and care. Washington DC: American Psychological Association; 2001. P.517-43. [DOI]
10. Gallagher MW, Long LJ, Tsai W, Stanton AL, Lu Q. The unexpected impact of expressive writing on posttraumatic stress and growth in Chinese American breast cancer survivors. J Clin Psychol. 2017;74:1673-86. [DOI] [PMID]
11. Jensen-Johansen MB, Christensen S, Valdimarsdottir H, Zakowski S, Jensen AB, Bovbjerg DH, Zachariae R. Effects of an expressive writing intervention on cancer-related distress in Danish breast cancer survivors - Results from a nationwide randomized clinical trial. Psychooncology. 2013;22(7):1492-500. [DOI] [PMID]
12. Sayer NA, Noorbaloochi S, Frazier PA, Pennebaker JW, Orazem RJ, Schnurr PP, et al. Randomized controlled trial of online expressive writing to address readjustment difficulties among U.S. Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans: RCT of expressive writing for veterans. J Trauma Stress. 2015;28(5):381-90. [DOI] [PMID]
13. Scheier MF, Carver CS, Bridges MW. Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem: A reevaluation of the Life Orientation Test. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1994;67(6):1063-78. [DOI] [PMID]
14. Shin HS. Testing the mediating effect of coping in the relation of optimism and pessimism to psychological adjustment in adolescents. Korean J. Youth Studies. 2005;12:165-92.
15. Carver CS. You want to measure coping, but your protocol's too long: Consider the brief COPE. Int J Behav Med. 1997;4(1):92-100. [DOI] [PMID]
16. Yang SK, Ha Y. Predicting posttraumatic growth among firefighters: The role of deliberate rumination and problem-focused coping. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(20):3879. [DOI] [PMID] []
17. Cann A, Calhoun LG, Tedeschi RG, Triplett KN, Vishnevsky T, Lindstrom CM. Assessing posttraumatic cognitive processes: The Event Related Rumination Inventory. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2011;24(2):137-56. [DOI] [PMID]
18. Ahn HN, Joo HS, Sim KS, Min JW. Validation of the Event Related Rumination Inventory in a Korean population. Cogn Behav Ther. 2013;13(1):149-72.
19. Song SH, Lee HS, Park JH, Kim KH. Validity and reliability of the Korean version of the posttraumatic growth inventory. Korean J Health Psychol. 2009; 3:193-214. [DOI]
20. Tedeschi RG, Shakespeare-Finch T, Calhoun LG. Posttraumatic growth: Theory, research, and applications. New York: Routledge; 2018. P.25-80. [DOI]
21. Stockton H, Joseph S, Hunt N. Expressive writing and posttraumatic growth: An internet-based study. Traumatol: Int J. 2014;20(2):75-83. [DOI]
22. Kirby R, Shakespeare-Finch J, Palk G. Adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies predict posttrauma outcomes in ambulance personnel. Traumatol. 2011;17:25-34. [DOI]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
