The present proposal seeks to examine the long term post- hurricane Katrina impact on police officers who policed the disaster in St. Bernard Parish, LA, one of the most devastated areas. We will examine associations in police officers concerning psychological symptomatology, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, perceived stress, and depression. Analyses will also include potential protective factors against stress and trauma, to include organization and social support, resiliency, and posttraumatic growth. Based on results from this initial assessment, we plan to develop, in future work, intervention strategies which are best suited for helping affected officers deal with their problems.
Exposure to natural disasters may lead to long term sequalae of posttraumatic stress and other psychological anomalies. The police, charged with first response maintenance of order, rescue and recovery, and their own personal losses, are at increased risk for such long term effects. This study proposes a post hurricane Katrina assessment of long term psychological and social impact on the St. Bernard Parish Sherriff's Department;as well as protective factors which may ameliorate such an impact.
| Leppma, Monica; Mnatsakanova, Anna; Sarkisian, Khachatur et al. (2018) Stressful life events and posttraumatic growth among police officers: A cross-sectional study. Stress Health 34:175-186 |
| McCanlies, Erin C; Gu, Ja Kook; Andrew, Michael E et al. (2017) Resilience mediates the relationship between social support and post-traumatic stress symptoms in police officers. J Emerg Manag 15:107-116 |
| McCanlies, Erin C; Mnatsakanova, Anna; Andrew, Michael E et al. (2014) Positive psychological factors are associated with lower PTSD symptoms among police officers: post Hurricane Katrina. Stress Health 30:405-15 |
