Symposia
Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders and Disasters
Antoine Lebeaut, M.A.
Doctoral Candidate
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Maya Zegel, M.A.
Doctoral Candidate
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Samuel Leonard, MS
Doctoral Student
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Nathaniel Healy, MA
Doctoral Student
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Elizabeth Anderson Fletcher, PhD
Associate Professor
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Anka A. Vujanovic, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Education
University of Houston - Department of Psychology
Houston, Texas
Background: The present investigation sought to examine the main and interactive effects of COVID-related medical vulnerability, defined as any medical condition or history with potential to elevate COVID-19 risk (e.g., respiratory diseases; weakened immune system; hypertension, heart/cardiac problems; chest pains in the past two years), and first responder status (firefighter vs. emergency medical services [EMS] personnel) on symptoms of anxiety, depression, and alcohol use. We hypothesized that, due to potentially higher rates of direct COVID-19 exposure through direct medical services, the effect of medical vulnerability on mental health symptoms would be moderated by first responder status. Specifically, EMS personnel were expected to report higher levels of each mental health criterion.
Methods: Data were collected between June-August 2020. The sample was comprised of 189 first responders (Mage = 47.58, SD = 10.93; 21% female; 67.9% EMS personnel), recruited nationally through the First Responder Center of Excellence email distribution list, who completed an online survey. A series of four hierarchical linear regression analyses was conducted. Covariates included years served as a first responder, exposure to COVID-19, and trauma load (i.e., total number of traumatic event types endorsed).
Results: Results indicated that medical vulnerability was significantly associated with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, but not alcohol use severity. Significant interactive effects of medical vulnerability and first responder status on anxiety, depression, and alcohol use severity emerged. Simple slope analyses revealed that greater medical vulnerability was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression for firefighters, but not EMS personnel, while greater medical vulnerability was associated with higher levels of alcohol use severity for both firefighters and EMS personnel. Clinical implications and future directions will be discussed.