Chelsey Kenney, Utah Valley University
Social and Behavioral Sciences
The purpose of this study was to compare the stressors and supportive resources found between Utah emergency medical service personnel who divorced after certification to those who did not divorce.
This data was collected by surveying all of the Utah EMS personnel during the Spring of 2010. Of the 7,000 current EMS employees, 668 completed the survey, resulting in a 9.5 percent response rate.
Results from T-test comparisons of means indicated that those who had divorced scored significantly worse on 18 out of 18 variables considered. Two variables indicated higher levels of past stress, ten variables indicated higher levels of Post-Traumatic Stress symptoms, and five variables indicated lower levels of support from family, co-workers and spiritual or religious sources. Of a special concern was the finding that the divorcees were significantly more likely to have reached a point of wanting to quit EMS altogether, (divorcees 53 percent and non-divorcees 35 percent).
Findings indicate that EMS personnel who divorced had higher levels of past stressors that may have contributed to the ending of their marriage. Two possibilities might explain what happened with these persons: first, they started suffering from PTSD and their marriage fell apart and then their symptoms got worse; or their marriage fell apart and then they started suffering from PTSD symptoms. Either way, the divorcees are suffering more, are more likely to quit, and less likely to have sources of support.
These findings indicate that it would likely be worthwhile to provide EMS personnel with psychological support, such as marriage counseling (or relationship counseling) because it would act as a preventative measure for further damage and would help ensure the psychological health of EMS employees. By increasing support, we reduce the desire to quit and the future problem of costs related to replacing EMS.