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Caring for the Care-Taker: A Post-Disaster Examination of Dual role First Responder Well-Being and Occupational Outcomes
Principal Investigator: Dr. Tracey E. Rizzuto, LSU Department of Psychology
Graduate Research Assistants: Begona Perez (SDMI); Jared LeDoux (Dept. of Psychology)
Research Problem:
First responders provide vital assistance to those affected by large-scale disasters. Paradoxically, they are also often personally affected by the disasters to which they respond, making them “dual role” responders: care-takers and disaster-affected. Despite the awareness of the considerable stress experienced by dual role responders (e.g., Douglas, Blanks, Crowther, & Scott, 1988; James, 1988; Kamarck, 2007), little is known about the impact of disaster on responder well-being and occupational outcomes. Are first responders more resilient to disasters because of their occupational/volunteer experiences? Once disaster is personalized, are occupation/volunteer first responders more or less likely to return to volunteer/occupational service?
The goal of this research is to examine the post-disaster outcomes of three groups of disaster-affected individuals (dual role first responders by occupation; dual role first responder volunteers; and non first responders) to address the following research questions:
- Are well-being outcomes (e.g., health, income, marital status, etc.) and occupational outcomes (e.g., work status, job seeking, etc.) different across these groups?
- What moderating factors (e.g., income, age, gender, occupation, education, training, family-to-work conflict) predict post-disaster outcomes for each group?
- What percentage returns to their prior occupations positions or first responder service? What factors predict “return to service?” Are these factors different for occupation vs. volunteer groups?
- Do growth models of post-disaster outcomes differ over time for each group?
Research Methodology:
Two decades of American Red Cross client data will be analyzed to explore post-disaster group differences with regard to well-being and occupational outcomes. Particular interest will be given to dual role first responders. This repeated cross-sectional design will be analyzed using regression and latent growth models to test predictive and temporally dependent relationships.
Research Implications
Given the critical importance first responders play in supporting disaster response and recovery, this research aims to identify personal and career challenges facing this group in order to improve retention, and to explore emergency response training and organizational structures that may further support first responders.
References
Douglas, R.B., Blanks, R., Crowther, A., & Scott, G. (1988). A study of stress in West Midlands firemen using ambulatory electrocardiograms. Work and Stress, 2, 309-318.
James, A. (1988). Perceptions of stress in British ambulance personnel. Work and Stress, 2, 319-326.
Kamarck, E.C. (2007, February). When first responders are victims: Rethinking emergency response. Harvard Law & Policy Review Online. Retrieved from www.hlpronline.com/2007/02/book_kamarck_01.html.
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