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Nho and Kim: Factors Influencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Crime Scene Investigators
Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2017; 47(1): 39-48.

Published online: 28 February 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2017.47.1.39

Factors Influencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Crime Scene Investigators

Seon Mi Nho1, Eun A Kim2

1Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency, Scientific Investigation Section, Gwangju, Korea.

2Department of Nursing, Honam University, Gwangju, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Kim, Eun A. Department of Nursing, Honam University, 417 Eodeung-daero, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju 62399, Korea. Tel: +82-62-940-5551, Fax: +82-62-940-5042, umberto@honam.ac.kr

Received 13 July 2016       Revised 2 November 2016       Accepted 2 November 2016

© 2017 Korean Society of Nursing Science

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivs License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/) If the original work is properly cited and retained without any modification or reproduction, it can be used and re-distributed in any format and medium.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to verify the relationships among social support, resilience and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and especially to identify factors influencing PTSD in police crime scene investigators.

Methods

A cross-sectional design was used, with a convenience sample of 226 police crime scene investigators from 7 Metropolitan Police Agencies. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires during July and August, 2015. Data were analyzed using t-test, χ2-test, Fisher's exact test, and binary logistic regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 21.0 program.

Results

The mean score for PTSD in police crime scene investigators was 13.69. 11 points. Of the crime scene investigators 181 (80.1%) were in the low-risk group and 45 (19.9%) in high-risk group. Social support (t=5.68, p<.001) and resilience (t=5.47, p<.001) were higher in the low-risk group compared to the high-risk group. Logistic regression analysis showed that resilience (OR=4.74, 95% CI: 1.57~14.35), and social support (OR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.23~3.69) are effect factors for PTSD low group.

Conclusion

For effective improvement of PTSD in police crime scene investigators, intervention programs including social support and strategies to increase should be established.

Keywords: Forensic sciences, Post-traumatic stress disorders, Social support, Psychological resilience

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Comparison of Characteristics between Low and High PTSD Groups (N=226)

jkan-47-39-i001
Variables Categories Total (n=226) Low PTSD (n=181) High PTSD (n=45) t or χ2 p
M±SD or n (%) M±SD or n (%) M±SD or n (%)
PTSD 13.69±15.11 7.30±6.42 39.38±12.47
Gender Male 192 (85.0) 154 (80.2) 38 (19.8) 0.01 .915
Female 34 (15.0) 27 (79.4) 7 (20.6)
Age (yr) ≤39 58 (25.7) 50 (86.2) 8 (13.8) 9.77 .008
40~49 142 (62.8) 116 (81.7) 26 (18.3)
≥50 26 (11.5) 15 (57.7) 11 (42.3)
Education level High school 48 (21.2) 37 (77.1) 11 (22.9) 0.95 .814
College 26 (11.5) 22 (84.6) 4 (15.4)
University 84 (37.2) 66 (78.6) 18 (21.4)
≥ Master 68 (30.1) 56 (82.4) 12 (17.6)
Spouse Yes 207 (91.6) 166 (80.2) 41 (19.8) - >.999*
No 19 (8.4) 15 (78.9) 4 (21.1)

PTSD=post traumatic stress disorder.

*Fisher exact test.

Table 2

Comparison of Job-Related Characteristics between Low and High PTSD Groups (N=226)

jkan-47-39-i002
Variables Categories Total (n=226) Low PTSD (n=181) High PTSD (n=45) χ2 p
n (%) n (%) n (%)
Shift pattern Shift 201 (88.9) 163 (81.1) 38 (18.9) 1.15 .283
Full time 25 (11.1) 18 (72.0) 7 (28.0)
Task Death investigator 58 (25.7) 47 (81.0) 11 (19.0) 0.04 .834
Scientific investigator 168 (74.3) 134 (79.8) 34 (20.2)
Total career as policeman (yr) ≤ 5 16 ( 7.0) 13 (81.2) 3 (18.8) 1.32 .859
6~10 79 (35.0) 65 (82.3) 14 (17.7)
11~15 21 ( 9.3) 16 (76.2) 5 (23.8)
16~20 52 (23.0) 43 (82.7) 9 (17.3)
≥ 21 58 (25.7) 44 (75.9) 14 (24.1)
Career as crime scene investigator (yr) ≤ 5 78 (34.5) 65 (83.3) 13 (16.7) 1.82 .403
6~10 103 (45.6) 83 (80.6) 20 (19.4)
≥ 11 45 (19.9) 33 (73.3) 12 (26.7)
Frequency of mobilization (per month) ≤ 20 75 (33.2) 62 (82.7) 13 (17.3) 0.96 .810
21~30 80 (35.4) 63 (78.8) 17 (21.2)
31~40 37 (16.4) 28 (75.7) 9 (24.3)
≥ 41 34 (15.0) 28 (82.4) 6 (17.6)
Psychotherapy Yes 53 (23.5) 41 (77.4) 12 (22.6) 0.32 .569
No 173 (76.5) 140 (80.9) 33 (19.1)
Participation of past education Yes 69 (30.5) 60 (87.0) 9 (13.0) 2.94 .087
No 157 (69.5) 121 (77.1) 36 (22.9)
Stress-inducing events Homicide 113 (50.0) 96 (85.0) 17 (15.0) 7.35 .025
Unnatural death 68 (30.1) 47 (69.1) 21 (30.9)
Accidents or rape 45 (19.9) 38 (84.4) 7 (19.9)

PTSD=post traumatic stress disorder.

Table 3

Social Support and Resilience according to Low and High PTSD Groups (N=226)

jkan-47-39-i003
Variables Total (n=226) Low PTSD (n=181) High PTSD (n=45) t p
M±SD M±SD M±SD
Social Support 3.60±0.86 3.75±0.84 2.98±0.67 5.68 <.001
Resilience 3.69±0.42 3.76±0.40 3.40±0.38 5.47 <.001

PTSD=post traumatic stress disorder.

Table 4

Predictors of PTSD in Crime Scene Investigators (N=226)

jkan-47-39-i004
Variables Categories B SE p OR 95% CI
Resilience 1.56 0.57 .006 4.74 1.57~14.35
Social support 0.76 0.28 .007 2.13 1.23~3.69
Stress-inducing events Homicide -0.20 0.53 .704 0.82 0.29~2.30
Unnatural death -0.89 0.54 .099 0.41 0.14~1.18
Accidents or rape (reference)
Age (yr) ≤39 1.02 0.63 .106 2.77 0.80~9.52
40~49 0.90 0.53 .088 2.46 0.88~6.90
≥50 (reference)

PTSD=post traumatic stress disorder; SE=Standard error; OR=Odds ratio; CI=Confidence interval.

Notes

This manuscript is based on a part of the first author's master's thesis from Honam University.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors declared no conflict of interest.

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