Journal of Depression and Anxiety
Open Access

Abstract

Patterns of Threat and Challenge Appraisals Differentially Predict Mental Health Outcomes in Municipal Firefighters

Luke Burks*, Joe Tomaka, Ruiji Bao, Xiaomin Sun and Dejan Magoc

Background: Considerable research suggests that individuals appraise potential stressors as threats or challenges, with threat appraisal reflecting the perception that situational demands exceed perceived ability to cope and challenge appraisal reflecting that situational demands are within perceived ability to cope. This research also shows that people show considerable cross-situational consistency in their stress appraisals, indicating that threat and challenge appraisal tendencies are stable aspects of persons. Recent research has challenged the traditional binary model of threat vs. challenge, suggesting that it overlooks significant differences in stress appraising, responding and outcomes.

Objectives: The present study had two objectives. The first was to use Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) of the appraisal of challenge or threat scale to identify multiple patterns of threat/challenge appraisal in a large sample of municipal firefighters. The second was to examine how these profiles related to several indices of psychological functioning, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomology, depression and subjective well-being.

Methods: This study was conducted using secondary data collected from a group of 737 municipal firefighters. Linear profile analysis aided in identifying latent profiles. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVAs) were used to determine differences between each profile. Materials used in the study included R Studio and Jamovi statistical software as well as the pre-existing data set. Measures included the appraisal of challenge or threat scale, the posttraumatic stress disorder checklist, the Zung depression inventory and the satisfaction with life scale.

Results: The results of this study found four appraisal profiles indicating various degrees of threat or challenge: Three challenge groups and one threat appraisal group. These appraisal patterns were differentially associated with indicators of psychological health.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that gradations consisting of multiple profiles may exist among threat and challenge perceptions due to variations in degrees of primary appraisals of situational demands and secondary appraisals of available resources.

Published Date: 2024-09-13; Received Date: 2024-08-14