Smoking predicts posttraumatic stress symptoms among rescue workers: a prospective study of ambulance personnel involved in the Enschede Fireworks Disaster
Open accessAbstract
Background Examining whether smoking is a risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among rescue workers affected by a disaster.Methods Ambulance personnel (N=66) participated in surveys 2-3 weeks (T1) and 18 months after a fireworks disaster (T2). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted with cigarette consumption at T1 as a predictor of PTSD symptoms at T2. Demographic characteristics, disaster experiences, peritraumatic dissociation, intrusions and avoidance, psychological distress and alcohol consumption assessed at T1 were included as covariates.Results Regression analyses showed that smoking at T1 independently predicted intrusions, avoidance, hostility, and depression symptoms at T2. Results were not affected by controlling for post-disaster critical incidents at work.Conclusions This is the first prospective study among rescue workers demonstrating that smoking soon after a disaster predicts PTSD symptoms in the intermediate term. Findings substantiate results of previous studies indicating that smoking is a relevant risk factor. Future research on how changes in cigarettes consumption post-trauma affect risk of PTSD is required.
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In human epidemiological studies, there appears to be an increased likelihood of developing chronic or post-traumatic stress with consequent autonomic dysfunction.
“In human epidemiological studies, there appears to be an increased likelihood of developing chronic or post-traumatic stress with consequent autonomic dysfunction (van der Velden et al., 2008).”
From Effectiveness of a Novel Qigong Meditative Movement Practice for Impaired Health in Flight Attendants Exposed to Second-Hand Cigarette Smoke (2017) · cites this paper as van der Velden et al., 2008
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References 26 · Cited by 108
Research works printed but not linked: 3
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- Authors
- van der Velden, P. G., Kleber, R. J., & Koenen, K. C.
- Affiliations
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Harvard University (US)
- Venue
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-04
- Volume
- 94
- Issue
- 1-3
- Pages
- 267-271
- ISSN
- 0376-8716 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2759324
- OpenAlex
- W2114312183
- Cited by
- 108
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 8.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence (publishedVersion)
- Research portal (Tilburg University) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (K08MH070627)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Emergency Medical Services › Disaster Response and Management
- Keywords
- smoking, post-traumatic stress disorder, rescue workers, ambulance personnel, disaster mental health, cigarette consumption, risk factors, intrusive memories, avoidance, hostility, depression, peritraumatic dissociation, psychological distress
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Ambulances, Disasters, Female, Fires, Humans, Male, Netherlands, Predictive Value of Tests, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Smoking, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Rescue Work
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