Citation

Rosansky JA, Cook J, Rosenberg H, Sprague JE. J. Forensic Sci. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Ohio Attorney General's Center for the Future of Forensic Science, Bowling Green State University, 116 Life Sciences Building, Bowling Green, OH.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.14044

PMID

30893487

Abstract

Few investigations have assessed the prevalence of posttraumatic stress experiences among Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs). We recruited a nationwide sample of 225 CSIs to complete online questionnaires assessing PTSD symptoms, use of specific coping tactics, perceived social support, trait resilience, and demographics. Seven symptoms had been experienced by at least 50% of participants during the previous month, and 9.3% had total checklist scores suggestive of PTSD. A significant regression analysis revealed that higher PTSD scores were associated with drinking alcohol more frequently to deal with stress, admitting more frequently one could not deal with stress and not trying to do so, lower social support, getting angry and letting emotions out more frequently, lower resilience, and finding comfort in one's religious beliefs. Given the proportions of CSIs that experience exposure-related stress, more should be done to mitigate the prevalence and severity of these symptoms.

© 2019 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

PTSD
; coping tactics; crime scene investigators; forensic science; posttraumatic stress disorder; resilience; social support