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Cited by 41Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchResilience and Mental HealthDisaster Management and Resilience

The disaster worker resiliency training program: a randomized clinical trial

Open access
Mahaffey, Brittain L., Mackin, Daniel M., Rosen, Jonathan, Schwartz, Rebecca M., Taioli, Emanuela, Gonzalez, Adam·2021·International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
DOI 10.1007/s00420-020-01552-3PMC PMC7245643
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Abstract

Objectives Disaster workers are at elevated risk for mental health problems as a result of trauma exposures during response efforts. One possible way to prevent mental health problems is to build-up coping resources that promote resilience to the effects of disaster work. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a resilience building workshop, the Disaster Worker Resiliency Training Program (DWRT), in disaster workers previously exposed to Hurricane Sandy.Methods Disaster workers (N = 167) were randomly assigned to the DWRT workshop (n = 78) or a waitlist (n = 89). Workers completed self-report measures on healthy lifestyle behaviors, perceived stress, depression, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms at baseline and 3-month follow-up. They also completed a measure assessing subsequent trauma-exposure between the baseline and 3-month post-intervention.Results Participants in the workshop condition, as compared to those in a waitlist control, reported significantly greater improvements from pre-intervention (T1) to 3-month follow-up (T2) in healthy lifestyle behaviors (η 2 = .03; p = .03), stress management (η 2 = .03, p = .04), and spiritual growth (η 2 = .03, p = .02). Among participants reporting subsequent trauma exposures between T1 and T2 (n = 101), participants in the waitlist condition, were more likely to report significant increases in perceived stress (η 2 = .07, p < .01), PTSD (η 2 = .05, p = .03), and depression (η 2 = .07, p < .01) symptoms.Conclusions Participation in the resilience workshop promoted engagement in positive health behaviors and reduced the incidence of mental health symptoms, especially when administered prior to a repeat trauma exposure. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term health effects of participation in the program.

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  • One-session resilience training workshops among firefighters have demonstrated efficacy in resilience-building and symptom prevention.

    “While the HAZMAT workshop is comprised of only one-session, one-session resilience training workshops among firefighters have demonstrated efficacy in resilience-building and symptom prevention [61].”

    From Mindful attention training workshop for firefighters: Design and methodology of a pilot randomized clinical trial (2022) · cites this paper as [61]

    The Introduction describes DWRT as a one-session workshop, and the Results report improved stress management and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Among participants with a subsequent trauma exposure, the workshop group also had fewer increases in stress, PTSD, and depression symptoms than the waitlist group. But Methods > Participants describes a mixed sample of disaster responders, not a firefighter-specific trial; the symptom finding was limited to the trauma-exposed subgroup. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Of those who experienced a traumatic event during the period between post-workshop and the 3-month follow-up, workers in the waitlist condition, compared to DWRT, were more likely to report increases in perceived stress, PTSD, and depression symptoms.

    “Notably, of those who experienced a traumatic event during the period between post-workshop and the 3-month follow-up), workers in the waitlist condition, compared to DWRT, were more likely to report increases in perceived stress, PTSD, and depression symptoms [61].”

    From Mindful attention training workshop for firefighters: Design and methodology of a pilot randomized clinical trial (2022) · cites this paper as [61]

    The Abstract Results and trauma-exposed ANOVA results report greater increases in perceived stress, PTSD, and depression symptoms in the waitlist group than in the DWRT group. However, the Methods define the trauma-exposure period as baseline (T1) to three-month follow-up (T2), not post-workshop to follow-up; symptom measures were not repeated immediately after the workshop. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The Disaster Working Resiliency Training Program (DWRT) is a 4-h single session workshop, developed for disaster workers, including firefighters.

    “For example, the Disaster Working Resiliency Training Program (DWRT) is a 4-h single session workshop, developed for disaster workers, including firefighters.”

    From Mindful attention training workshop for firefighters: Design and methodology of a pilot randomized clinical trial (2022) · cites this paper as [61]

  • In the context of an RCT, disaster workers randomized to the DWRT program, compared to a waitlist condition, showed improvements in healthy lifestyle behaviors, spiritual growth, and stress management at 3-month post-workshop follow-up.

    “In the context of an RCT, disaster workers randomized to the DWRT program, compared to a waitlist condition, showed improvements in healthy lifestyle behaviors, spiritual growth, and stress management at 3-month post-workshop follow-up.”

    From Mindful attention training workshop for firefighters: Design and methodology of a pilot randomized clinical trial (2022) · cites this paper as [61]

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Authors
Mahaffey, B. L., Mackin, D. M., Rosen, J., Schwartz, R. M., Taioli, E., & Gonzalez, A.
Affiliations
  • Northwell Health (US)
  • Stony Brook University (US)
Corresponding author
Mahaffey, Brittain L.
ORCID
Venue
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2020-05-24
Volume
94
Issue
1
Pages
9-21
ISSN
  • 0340-0131 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-1246
DOI
10.1007/s00420-020-01552-3
PMC
PMC7245643
OpenAlex
W3028041876
Cited by
41
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1
FWCI
1.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1-HITEP-140021-01-00)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Disaster Management and Resilience
Keywords
disaster workers, resilience training, Hurricane Sandy, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, perceived stress, healthy lifestyle behaviors, spiritual development, stress management, disaster mental health
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Depression, Disasters, Female, Humans, Inservice Training, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Stress, Psychological, Teaching, Workplace, Resilience, Psychological, Cyclonic Storms, Self Report

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