Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Graham, Steven

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

There is very little research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 911 dispatchers. This is because of the heavy stigma that surrounds the topic and the idea that dispatchers cannot suffer from PTSD due to the way they experience trauma. However, previous research shows that dispatchers can suffer from job-related PTSD. The aim of this study was to observe the relationship between PTSD and two of the traits it can affect, empathy and aggression in 911 dispatchers. Previous research shows a negative relationship between PTSD and empathy and a positive relationship between PTSD and aggression. The hypotheses for this study were that there would be a relationship between PTSD and empathy (either positive or negative), and that there would be a positive relationship between PTSD and aggression. An online survey was created which included measurement scales as well as open-ended questions. Data analysis showed that there was a positive relationship between PTSD and empathy and a positive relationship between PTSD and aggression. Participants showed the full range of scores on the PTSD severity measurement. Female dispatchers also had higher PTSD symptom severity than their male counterparts. This study showed that many dispatchers are suffering from PTSD symptomology that would be severe enough for an official diagnosis. Further research should look into the disparities between the study’s findings and previous literature for the relationship between PTSD and empathy. Further research should also be conducted on PTSD and 911 dispatchers as they are an understudied group.

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