| Since the events of September 11th, many studies have focused on the adverse psychological reactions of trauma survivors while fewer have explored outcomes that include personal growth. This study explores the impact that 9/11 has had on the New York City Fire Department's members by determining their exposure to the disaster, the degree to which they experienced posttraumatic stress and growth, and their coping styles.; The major findings of this study were that the traumatic stress levels for this particular study sample were low, that the majority of the study population reported low to moderate levels of growth, and that particular styles of coping were significantly related to levels of stress and growth.; Obtaining a clearer understanding of the positive and negative outcomes associated with trauma exposure allows for the enhancement of clinical interventions as well as emergency service work education and training in traumatic stress prevention. |
