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PurposeThe aim of this study was to understand factors that influence post-traumatic stress (PTS) in Korean forensic science investigators.MethodsA total of 111 forensic science investigators were recruited in Korea. PTS was measured using the tool modified by Choi, 2001Choi E.S. A model for post-traumatic stress in firefighters.Korean Journal of Society of Emergency Medical Services. 2001; 5: 147-164Google Scholar from the original developed by Foa et al., 1993Foa E.B. Riggs D.S. Dancu C.V. Rothbaum B.O. Reliability and validity of a brief instrument for assessing post-traumatic stress disorder.Journal of Traumatic Stress. 1993; 6: 459-473http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jts.2490060405Crossref Google Scholar based on DSM-IV. Factors influencing PTS included demographic and job-related characteristics, emotional intelligence, and death anxiety.ResultsPTS scores were positively correlated with personality type, fatigue from work, and death anxiety. PTS scores were negatively correlated with length of career as a forensic science investigator and emotional intelligence. The factors that had the greatest influence on PTS were death anxiety, years spent as a forensic science investigator, personality type, emotional intelligence, fatigue, and homicide experience. The explanatory power of these six factors was 44.0%.ConclusionTherefore, it is necessary to regularly evaluate the mental health of those who are vulnerable to PTS. Based on these results, various interventions could be implemented for promoting overall health of the forensic science investigators.
Yoo et al. (Thu,) studied this question.