Citation

McCarroll JE, Ursano RJ, Fullerton CS, Oates GL, Ventis WL, Friedman H, Shean GL, Wright KM. J. Trauma. Stress 1995; 8(2): 343-349.

Affiliation

Department of Military Psychiatry, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C. 20307-5100, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7627448

Abstract

Previous research has shown that exposure to grotesque death has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and higher levels of stress have been associated with mortuary workers who anticipated handling remains than those who did not. Additional research is presented here to further clarify the nature of the anticipated stress of handling the dead. Anticipated stress of handling human remains was rated for 13 different situations by 479 persons (384 men and 95 women) without such experience, but whose job was likely to require it. Factor analysis of their ratings revealed three psychological dimensions: the gruesomeness of the remains, an emotional link between the viewer and the remains, and personal threats to the remains handler. Suggestions for preventive measures, training, and interventions for those who may handle remains are made.

Language: en