The significance of the sense of coherence for various coping resources in stress situations used by police officers in on-the-beat service

Background: Police officers meet many stressors as part of their occupation. The psychological resource "sense of coherence" (SOC) protects against ill-health, but its impact on coping resources for stress situations has not been studied in the population of police officers. Different approaches to investigate the significance of SOC for different outcomes have been identified in literature, leading to some difficulties in the interpretation and generalization of results. The aim was therefore to explore SOC and the coping resources, and to examine the significance of SOC for various coping resources for stress using different models in a sample of Swedish police officers providing on-the-beat service. Materials and Methods: One hundred and one police officers (age: mean = 33 years, SD = 8; 29 females) were included, and the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (SOC-29) and the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI) were used. The dependent variable in each regression analysis was one of the coping resources: cognitive, social, emotional, spiritual/philosophical, physical, and a global resource. Global SOC-29 and/or its components (comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness) were investigated as independent variables. Results: All CRI and SOC-29 scores except for that of spiritual/philosophical resources were higher than those of reference groups. Manageability was the most important component of SOC for various coping resources in stress situations used by police officers. Conclusion: A deeper study of manageability will give useful information, because this component of SOC is particularly significant in the variation in resources used by police officers to cope with stress. Salutogenesis, the origin of well-being, should be more in focus of future research on workplaces with a high level of occupational stress

Positive and negative effects of trauma in patients after myocardial infarction: the role of type D personality

Background: Experiencing a myocardial infarction threatens the health and life of the patient; therefore, it can be perceived as a traumatic event. Indeed, myocardial infarction may result in negative consequences, including symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, it is also possible to experience positive effects from traumatic events, which is expressed as posttraumatic growth. Personality characteristics, including type D (i.e., distressed) personality, are among several factors that have been shown determine the occurrence of negative and positive consequences after exposure to trauma. Aim of the study: The aim of the present study was to establish the role of distressed personality in the occurrence of negative and positive effects of trauma resulting from myocardial infarction. Material and methods: The study included a total of 80 patients after myocardial infarction. Sixty-three patients aged 43–85 years (M=67, SD=10.76) were included in the final analysis. The majority of respondents were men (61.9%). Patients completed a survey with three standardized measurement tools: the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and the Type D Scale (DS-14). Results: Negative affectivity was positively associated with PTSD symptoms, and this association was strongest for negative changes in cognition or mood. Social inhibition was not associated with PTSD symptoms, except for increased arousal and reactivity. Both dimensions of type D personality were positively related to one factor of posttraumatic growth: changes in the spiritual sphere. Conclusions: Reducing the severity of negative affectivity may decrease PTSD symptoms and thus contribute to improved psychosocial functioning among patients who have experienced myocardial infarction

Workaholism and Mental Health Among Polish Academic Workers

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between workaholism and mental health among 126 Polish academic workers. The participantsʼ mean age was 45.9 years, 51.6% of them were women. The participants completed 2 questionnaires: the work addiction risk test and the general health questionnaire. Even though 66% of the subjects were classified in the group of moderate-to-high risk of workaholism, the overall state of mental health was categorized as average. The results revealed that workaholism was associated with poorer mental health. Employees with higher levels of workaholism had worse state of health, i.e., more somatic symptoms, higher levels of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction and symptoms of depression. Emotional arousal/perfectionism was the strongest predictor of the state of general health and was mostly responsible for harmful effects on mental health. However, the general effect of workaholism on health was not as strong as expected