Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37259042›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2023

A preliminary study investigating the neglected domain of mental health in Australian lifesavers and lifeguards.

Samantha Fien, Jasmin C Lawes, Jessica Ledger, Murray Drummond, Pamela Simon, Nancy Joseph, Shane Daw, Talitha Best, Robert Stanton, Ian de Terte

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 16% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Samantha FienSchool of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Mackay, QLD, Australia. s.fien@cqu.edu.au.
Jasmin C LawesSurf Life Saving Australia, Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Jessica LedgerSurf Life Saving Australia, Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Murray DrummondCollege of Education, Psychology and Social Work, SHAPE Research Centre, Flinders University, Adelaide, Health, Australia.
Pamela SimonSurf Life Saving Australia, Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Nancy JosephSurf Life Saving Australia, Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Shane DawSurf Life Saving Australia, Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Talitha BestResearch Cluster for Resilience and Wellbeing, Appleton Institute, Wayville, South, Australia.
Robert StantonResearch Cluster for Resilience and Wellbeing, Appleton Institute, Wayville, South, Australia.
Ian de TerteSchool of Psychology, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
Central Queensland University · AUFlinders University · AUMassey University · NZ

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSurf lifesavers and lifeguards have provided essential education, preventative, and rescue services to the Australian community for over 110 years. In this first responder role, surf lifesavers and lifeguards are inadvertently exposed to high risk and trauma related experiences, which may negatively impact mental well-being. To date however, there has been limited research into the mental health of surf lifesavers and lifeguards, and no studies at all on the mental health of adolescent surf lifesavers. The preliminary study aimed to measure the exposure of potentially traumatic events (PTEs), post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), self-efficacy, social support, and attitudes towards mental health problems in Surf Life Saving (SLS) members.

methodsAn anonymous, online survey was developed (adolescent and adult versions) and created to measure the domain of mental health in surf lifesavers and lifeguards. Pearson's correlations investigated relationships between PTEs, PTSS, self-efficacy, social support, attitudes towards mental health problems, age, years as a SLS member, and years patrolling. Spearman's Rank was used for violations of normality.

resultsA total of 57 surf lifesavers/lifeguards aged 13-59 years were included in the final analysis. There was a significant positive relationship between exposure to direct trauma and PTSS, which in turn, were associated with greater negative attitudes towards mental health problems towards the mental health of others, and lower levels of self-efficacy. Male and female adults with PTSS reported lower social support, whereas for adolescent males, a positive relationship between direct trauma and PTSS was observed.

conclusionThis research is the first to explore the mental health of Australian surf lifesavers and lifeguards. The results highlight the potential risks to mental health and well-being associated with this first responder role. More research to protect the vulnerability of this population is warranted.

Indexed as

Mental HealthStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticAdolescentAdultAustralasian PeopleAustraliaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesSwimmingYoung AdultAustraliaFirst respondersLifeguardsLifesaversMental healthPost-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS)Volunteers

Identifiers

PMID37259042
PMCPMC10231295
OpenAlexW4378906500

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.