Thwarted belongingness and PTSD symptom severity among firefighters: the role of emotion regulation difficulties
Abstract
The present investigation examined the associations among thwarted belongingness (TB), emotion regulation difficulties (ERD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity among firefighters. First, the associations of TB and ERD with PTSD symptom severity were evaluated. Second, the indirect effect of TB on PTSD symptom severity through ERD was examined. The sample included 246 trauma-exposed firefighters ( M age = 40.21, SD = 9.93, 93.1% male) who completed an online questionnaire battery. Results demonstrate significant, positive associations among TB, ERD, and PTSD symptom severity; and an indirect effect of TB on PTSD symptom severity through heightened ERD (β = 0.17; CI [0.08, 0.29]). Alternate indirect effect models were also significant, underscoring the potentially bidirectional associations of these variables. These findings suggest that there is merit in investigating the role of interpersonal factors and ERD among firefighter populations to better understand PTSD symptomatology. Clinical and empirical implications are discussed.
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In subsequent studies with fire fighters, difficulties in emotion regulation accounted for the link between depression and insomnia and were linked with PTSD symptom severity, sleep difficulties, and alcohol use.
“In subsequent studies with fire fighters, difficulties in emotion regulation accounted for the link between depression and insomnia and were linked with PTSD symptom severity, sleep difficulties, and alcohol use (16, 17, 57–59).”
From Pilot outcomes and exploration of treatment mechanisms using a culturally adapted version of the unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders to improve mental health symptoms, alcohol misuse, functional outcomes, and sleep quality in emergency responders (2025) · cites this paper as [59]
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- Authors
- Leonard, S. J., & Vujanovic, A. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Houston (US)
- Corresponding author
- Vujanovic, Anka A.
- Venue
- Behavior Modification
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2021-03-16
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 352-373
- ISSN
- 0145-4455 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-4167
- OpenAlex
- W4229056770
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 1.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behavior Modification (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Keywords
- thwarted belongingness, emotional dysregulation, post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD symptom severity, firefighters, trauma exposure, interpersonal factors, bidirectional relationship, occupational stress
- MeSH terms
- Emotional Regulation, Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Firefighters
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