Posttraumatic stress disorder in the new zealand police: The moderating role of social support following traumatic stress

Abstract

Abstract It has been consistently demonstrated that social support affects psychological outcomes following the experience of trauma. Information processing theories of traumatic stress and empirical evidence suggest a model of social support and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) aetiology, in which emotional support and disclosure moderates the effects of trauma. This model was tested using survey data from 527 New Zealand Police officers. The results showed that all support variables had significant negative main effects on PTSD symptoms. Trauma was positively related to PTSD symptoms and this relationship was moderated by police officers' attitudes to expressing emotions at work and emotional support from peers. These results have implications for the provision of support for workers whose job places them at risk of experiencing multiple trauma.