Date Approved

6-9-2026

Embargo Period

6-9-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S. Disaster and Threat Response Management

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

College

College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Advisor

Anthony Mangeri, M.P.A.

Committee Member 1

Jeffrey Dever, MSEM

Committee Member 2

Gregory Godish, MBA

Keywords

Collegiate Emergency Medical Services;Post Traumatic Stress Disorder;Resilience;Social Support;Trauma

Disciplines

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Psychology

Abstract

Collegiate Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers are routinely exposed to potentially traumatic events while simultaneously managing academic responsibilities, yet limited research has examined psychological outcomes within this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among trauma exposure, PTSD symptom severity, resilience, and perceived social support among collegiate EMS providers. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed using a self-report survey administered to collegiate EMS personnel across multiple institutions. The final sample consisted of 26 participants. Results indicated that trauma exposure was significantly positively associated with PTSD symptom severity, suggesting that increased exposure to critical incidents is linked to higher levels of psychological distress. Resilience and perceived social support were not significantly associated with PTSD symptom severity at the total scale level. However, subscale analyses revealed that family support was negatively associated with PTSD symptoms, while support from friends was positively associated with resilience. Additionally, workload variables were significantly associated with trauma exposure, indicating that increased operational involvement may contribute to greater exposure to traumatic event

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