Associations between PPTEs and higher prevalence of mental health disorders have been reported among a large sample of Canadian PSP ( Carleton et al., 2018b), thus repeated exposure to PPTEs may be, at least in part, one explanation for a higher prevalence of positive screens for mental health disorders among PSP ( Carleton et al., 2018b). Public safety personnel (PSP) are routinely exposed to organizational stressors (e.g., staff shortages, lack of appropriate resources, inconsistent approaches to leadership), operational stressors (e.g., fatigue, shift work, job-related injuries), and diverse potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs e.g., life-threatening natural disaster, sudden violent death, serious transportation accident McCreary and Thompson, 2006 Carleton et al., 2018a). Social support appears particularly relevant for occupations involving high-stress levels, physical exertion, and exposure to distressing events. High levels of perceived social support can provide direct effects in improving mental and physical health, and can buffer against the adverse effects of stress on health ( Uchino et al., 1996 Cohen et al., 2000 Patterson, 2003 Southwick et al., 2005 Ozbay et al., 2007 Thoits, 2011 Santini et al., 2015 Hansson et al., 2017 Vig et al., 2020 Nero et al., 2022). The extent of social support an individual perceives may vary depending on their depth of integration within a relationship or organization ( Cohen and Wills, 1985). Social support may be provided by spouses, partners, family, friends, co-workers, or professionals ( Cohen and Wills, 1985). Perceptions of psychological and material resources associated with social support can be categorized into three groups: (1) informational (e.g., giving advice, providing guidance) (2) instrumental (e.g., providing material or financial resources, helping with routine tasks) and (3) emotional (e.g., expressing empathy, reassuring, providing the opportunity to process emotions House et al., 1985 Vig et al., 2020). Notably, intentions to help others cope with stress may not always align with perceptions of the support received. Social support is a multifaceted construct, which can be conceptualized as “a social network’s provision of psychological and material resources intended to benefit an individual’s ability to cope with stress” ( Cohen, 2004, p: 676). Factors contributing to decreased levels of perceived social support should be considered. Reductions in perceived levels of social support may be a function of RCMP service. Social support appears to offer a protective element against anxiety-related disorders among participating cadets. Results: The results indicated statistically significant associations between higher social support and decreased odds of positive screens for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder (i.e., significant Adjusted Odds Ratios = 0.90 to 0.95).ĭiscussion: Cadets’ perceived levels of social support are comparable to the Canadian general population and higher than serving RCMP. Methods: RCMP cadets ( n = 765, 72% male) completed self-report surveys assessing: sociodemographic information, social support, and symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and alcohol use disorder. However, research examining perceived social support and its associations with symptoms related to mental disorders among PSP recruits is limited. Social support has been evidenced as a protective factor for mental health. Introduction: Certain populations, such as public safety personnel (PSP), experience frequent exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events and other occupational stressors, increasing their risk for mental health challenges. 5Anxiety and Illness Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada.4Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.3Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.2Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. 1Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada.Jolan Nisbet 1 *, Laleh Jamshidi 1, Katie L.
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