Davidson, Lorraine (Laine) (2008) Stability of Coping in an Ambulance Paramedic Population. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Sparse research literature exists in examining the longitudinal stability of coping styles in ambulance paramedics. This study aimed to examine the stability of coping styles in the context of high occupational trauma. Therefore, this study focussed on stability of coping within ambulance paramedics, using a longitudinal research design. Data from 62 Queensland ambulance paramedics were utilised for analysis. Participants’ Time 1 and Time 2 scores for the higher order of approach and avoidant coping was examined to assess whether exposure to trauma impacts on the stability, as well as the interrelationship of the lower order coping styles of these variables, over time. Two psychological tests were used, the Coping Responses Inventory (CRI) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). The reliability of the eight CRI scales was low at the subscale level. Therefore, the eight CRI subscales were converted into four composite scales reflecting cognitive and behavioural approach coping (two scales) and cognitive and behavioural avoidant coping (two scales). Repeated measures ANOVA were used to assess the hypothesised stability of coping at both the higher order (two-dimensional) level of coping, as well as at the lower order level. Results from this study partially supported the stability of the higher order approach and avoidant coping strategies. Also, significant differences were found for lower order cognitive and behavioural avoidant coping in Time 2. Cognitive approach coping decreased significantly from Time 1 to Time 2 whereas cognitive avoidant coping increased over the same time period. Unexpectedly, the results indicated that a mediated model was not viable. Interestingly, significant relationships were found only for part of the mediation model in both sets of analyses, indicating that the relationship between occupational stress and Time 2 coping was significant.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Andrea Quinn |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Nov 2025 03:30 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Nov 2025 03:30 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52250 |
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