Spirituality/Religion Among First Responders With and Without Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Misuse

Abstract

Objective: To examine the co-occurrence of alcohol misuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and potential sources of coping (e.g., spirituality/religion) and clinically relevant variables among first responders (e.g., firefighters, law enforcement corrections officers, paramedics). Method: We assessed rates of independent and co-occurring alcohol misuse and PTSD among a national online sample of 320 first responders as well as the prevalence and salience of S/R, guilt, shame, moral injury, aspects of S/R, and treatment interest. Results: In our sample, 46.88% (n = 150) met criteria for comorbid alcohol misuse and probable PTSD and individuals with these comorbid conditions reported significantly greater negative religious coping, moral injury, and shame than all other diagnostic groups (i.e., independent alcohol misuse, independent PTSD, and neither). Correlations also revealed significant relationships between alcohol misuse and PTSD symptomatology with positive and negative religious coping, moral injury, shame, guilt, interest in treatment, and interest in spiritually integrated treatment. Conclusions: Findings highlight the high rates of independent and co-occurring alcohol misuse and PTSD among first responders as well as the salience of S/R in this population.

Keywords:

• First responder
• law enforcement
• firefighter
• PTSD
• alcohol
• spirituality

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. The authors jointly affirm that this manuscript is an honest, accurate, and transparent account of the study being reported; that no important aspects of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the study as planned have been explained. Participants were assured raw data would remain confidential and would not be shared.

Additional information

Funding

Financial support was received from McLean Hospital development fund (#041537).