An investigation of stress/crisis consequence management training and its impact on coping and distress in the crisis workers

The purpose of this study was to investigate stress/crisis consequence management training and the impact of coping and distress in crisis workers. The study determined whether there was a significant difference in the participants stress reactions or crisis behavioral responses with stress/crisis consequence management training. Review of the literature revealed a number of psychosocial factors have been found to play a role in health functioning in 1st responders. These include stressful life events, coping skills, global social resource response and preexisting distress responses. There were 240 urban crisis workers in this study population. 120 individuals of this population were randomly selected to receive an eight hour training workshop in crisis/stress management consequence management skills and techniques and the other 120 individuals were randomly selected to receive a one hour lecture seminar in crisis/stress consequence management skills and technique. This was a simple random sample selection. Both groups of participants were administered the a questionnaire inquiry in approximately 15 minutes before and after an eight hour crisis management training workshop and a one hour lecture seminar. The sample of this study was comprised of sixty (60) randomly selected emergency management crisis workers in the District of Columbia. The sixty (60) participants were administered the Multidimensional Health Profile-Psychological Function (MHP-P) questionnaire.; The MHP-P provides a comprehensive assessment of psychosocial characteristics relevant to emotional health and the attainment of coping abilities or coping awareness. The MHP-P consist of a fifty eight (58) items questionnaire inquiry. The question presented examined comparison between workers who had eight hours of training and those who did not have training but received a one hour lecture seminar.; This was a comparison study. A randomized sample technique was also used for this population. The student t-test and the correlation pairwise comparison sample was used to analyze data. This method of data collection was considered the most appropriate because it presented the researcher with the best opportunity to research a diverse number of crisis working 1st responders.; The results of this study revealed a significant difference in the Coping and Distress Levels of those crisis workers who took part in the training (multiple dimensional workshop) versus those crisis workers who only took part in the lecture (a uni-dimensional seminar). The study also revealed no significant difference in the Life Stress Response Levels and the global stress Response Levels. The results revealed that the high coping Level in the training group coping skills were evaluated in context with Life Stress and total distress. The results also revealed relationship difference between the Training Group stressful event and the past experience.