The Relationship Between Grit and Resilience in Emergency Medical Service Personnel

Abstract

Background: Emergency medical service (EMS) personnel are regularly exposed to traumatic incidents and experience higher rates of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population. Grit is a construct proposed to be associated with achievement, but it has demonstrated preliminary evidence of an association with resilience. The current study examined the relationship between grit and resilience among EMS workers.

Methods: A link to an online survey was sent to East Baton Rouge Parish Emergency Medical Services personnel via an email distribution list. Demographic variables and the following self-report measures were assessed: the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Grit Scale, the Brief COPE scale, and the Professional Exposure to Traumatic Experiences scale (modified from the Life Events Checklist).

Results: PCL-5 scores were significantly and negatively correlated with the Grit Scale score (r=–0.57, P<0.01). Hierarchical regression revealed that grit and coping mechanisms were predictive of self-reported PTSD symptoms (adjusted R²=68.7%, F(15,67)=9.81, P<0.001). Examination of the coefficients revealed that lower total Grit Scale scores and higher scores on the following Brief COPE scales were significant predictors of PCL-5 scores: denial, substance abuse, disengagement, and self-blame.

Conclusion: This study examined the relationship between grit and resilience, measured by self-reported PTSD symptoms. Our results demonstrate a significant relationship between grit and resilience. Grit is related to, but distinct from, other constructs that predict resilience, such as coping mechanisms. Large prospective studies could have significant implications for hiring practices and building grit in existing personnel to bolster resilience.

INTRODUCTION

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are regularly exposed to traumatic incidents, including violence, suicide, severe injuries, and death. In one survey, 82% of emergency medical service (EMS) personnel surveyed reported experiencing a particularly disturbing event.¹ Studies have estimated that 9% to 22% of EMTs/paramedics develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD),² and a 2018 metanalysis of 30,878 ambulance personnel estimated the prevalence rate of PTSD to be 11%.³ These estimates are higher than the rates of PTSD found in the general population.^2-4 PTSD is a clinical disorder that can occur after an individual is exposed to traumatic events, either directly or indirectly.⁵ Symptoms of PTSD include reexperiencing the event, avoidance of trauma-related stimuli, negative thoughts or feelings that are initiated or exacerbated by the trauma, and increased arousal and reactivity after exposure to the traumatic event. As many as 80% of EMS personnel develop some symptoms of PTSD, even if they do not develop the full clinical syndrome.^1,2,6 Symptoms such as anger, hostility, sleep disturbances, and avoidance can significantly interfere with individuals’ personal and professional lives.² The high-stress environment of EMS work also poses health risks such as obesity, sleep problems, and cardiovascular disease.⁷

Kerai and colleagues reported that among 518 EMS personnel, PTSD was associated with dysfunctional coping styles, anxiety, and depression.⁸ A sense of coherence—the perception of stressors and challenges as “manageable, meaningful, and comprehensible”⁹—serves as a protective factor for EMS personnel in that individuals who report higher levels of a sense of coherence endorse fewer PTSD symptoms.^9,10 Despite the literature on risk factors for PTSD among EMS personnel,^1,2,8 a paucity of literature examines protective factors, other than a sense of coherence, that could be used to identify resilient EMS personnel. Strategies need to be developed to select resilient personnel and to foster resilience in existing EMS personnel.

The concept of grit is proposed to be a construct related to achievement and is worth study as a possible protective factor. In the definition by Duckworth et al, grit has 2 elements: persistence of effort in the face of adversity (perseverance) and consistency of interest (passion for long-term goals).¹¹ Grit entails “working strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, and plateaus in progress.”¹¹ Duckworth and colleagues have found that grit is associated with retention in a variety of settings, including the military, sales representative jobs, graduating from high school, and remaining married.¹² Although Duckworth et al do not discuss grit in terms of resilience in their articles, one hypothesis for these findings may be that individuals who have higher grit scores are more resilient, and this resilience enables them to overcome obstacles to reach their goals. Although relatively little work has empirically examined the relationship between grit and resilience, 2 studies have reported that the construct of grit is associated with lower rates of burnout and greater psychological well-being among medical residents.^13,14 Further, in a survey of 548 physicians in the United Kingdom, a negative correlation between grit and burnout was reported.¹⁵ These studies lend support to the hypothesis that individuals with higher grit may also be more resilient.

The current study examined the relationship between grit and resilience among EMTs/paramedic workers. We hypothesized that those who rated themselves higher on the grit scale would report fewer PTSD symptoms, indicating greater resilience to the impact of work stressors. A secondary hypothesis was that grit is related to coping mechanisms, which are related to resilience.^16,17

METHODS

The authors developed an online survey for this study. Because the purpose of the study was to examine the impact of their work on EMS personnel, we chose measures that would assess exposure to traumatic events, PTSD symptoms, and coping mechanisms. When possible, we chose psychometrically sound abbreviated versions of scales to minimize the time required to complete the survey. A link to the survey was sent to East Baton Rouge Parish Emergency Medical Services personnel via an email distribution list. The survey was available from June 2017 to August 2017. A reminder email was sent at the end of June. Participants were informed that the survey was voluntary and anonymous, including the inability to capture IP addresses, and that participation implied consent. This study was approved by Our Lady of the Lake College Institutional Review Board, now the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Institutional Review Board.

Measures

Demographic variables and the following self-report measures were assessed: the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5),¹⁸ the Grit Scale,¹¹ the Brief COPE scale,¹⁹ and the Professional Exposure to Traumatic Experiences scale (modified from the Life Events Checklist).²⁰ Demographic variables assessed included age (categorized by decade of life), sex, and years on the job.

The PCL-5 contains 20 items rated on a 0 (“not at all”) to 4 (“extremely”) scale that assess how much the individual has been bothered by symptoms of PTSD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) within the past month.⁵ Higher scores indicate more self-reported PTSD symptoms. The PCL-5 has demonstrated excellent internal consistency (alpha=0.94) and good test-retest reliability (r=0.82).²¹

The 12-item Grit Scale contains 6 items assessing consistency of interest and 6 items assessing perseverance of effort. Items related to consistency of interest include “My interests change from year to year” and “I often set a goal but later choose to pursue a different one.” Items related to perseverance include “I finish whatever I begin” and “Setbacks don’t discourage me.” Items are rated on a 1 to 5 scale with answer choices ranging from “not at all like me” to “very much like me.” Higher scores are indicative of higher self-reported grit. The 12-item Grit Scale has demonstrated high internal consistency (alpha=0.85).¹¹

The Brief COPE scale¹⁹ includes 28 items rated on a 0 to 3 scale ranging from “I do not do this” to “I do this a lot.” Example items include “I turn to other activities to take my mind off things,” “I get emotional support from others,” and “I get help and advice from other people.” The items are categorized into 14 scales with 2 items each: self-distraction, active coping, denial, substance abuse, use of emotional support, use of instrumental support, behavioral disengagement, venting, positive reframing, planning, humor, acceptance, religion, and self-blame. Higher scales scores indicate that individuals are more likely to use the coping mechanism. Scales of the Brief COPE have demonstrated adequate internal consistency, ranging from alpha=0.50 for venting to alpha=0.90 for substance abuse.¹⁹

The Professional Exposure to Traumatic Experiences scale assesses 11 items that first responders may be exposed to. Example items include “serious accident at work, home or during a recreational activity,” “sudden violent death (eg, homicide or suicide),” and “fire or explosion.” Individuals rate how often they are exposed to each of the 11 items on a 5-point scale ranging from “never” to “all the time.” Higher scores are indicative of higher frequencies of self-reported exposure to traumatic events. The items were adapted from the Life Events Checklist.²⁰

Statistical Analyses

Descriptive statistics were calculated. Pearson correlations measured relationships between demographic variables, professional exposure, Grit Scale scores, and PCL-5 scores. Linear regression analysis was conducted to determine whether demographic variables (ie, age, sex, and years of experience) or professional exposure predicted Grit Scale scores. A second linear regression analysis examined whether Grit Scale scores, professional exposure, and demographic variables predicted PCL-5 scores. Correlations between Brief COPE scales, PCL-5, and Grit Scale scores were examined using Pearson correlations. To determine whether Grit Scale scores added uniquely to the prediction of PCL-5 scores, we conducted a hierarchical linear regression with the 14 Brief COPE scale scores as step 1 and total Grit Scale score as step 2. A power analysis indicated that linear regression including 15 predictors (ie, the Grit Scale and 14 Brief COPE scales) in our sample of 84 individuals yielded a power of 0.91 to detect large effect sizes (R²=0.26). The significance level for all analyses was set at P<0.05.

RESULTS

The survey link was emailed to 170 EMS personnel. In all, 108 individuals completed the demographic questions. Ninety individuals completed the Brief COPE scales, except for the religion scale that 89 individuals completed. Eighty-four individuals completed the Grit Scale and the PCL-5. Therefore, statistical analyses were performed on the 84 individuals who completed both the Grit Scale and the PCL-5.

The mean PCL-5 symptom severity score was 22.55 (SD=17.44), and the mean Grit Scale score was 3.46 (SD=0.59). All 84 individuals responded to the questions regarding professional exposure to traumatic experiences, and the mean score was 25.20 (SD=6.43). Demographic data are presented in Table 1.

Table 1.

Demographic Information for the Emergency Medical Service Personnel Who Responded to our Survey

Variable	Frequency (%)
Sex
Male	47 (56)
Female	37 (44)
Race
Caucasian	80 (95.2)
Other	4 (4.8)
Age, years
21-30	14 (16.7)
31-40	29 (34.5)
41-50	27 (32.1)
51-60	12 (14.3)
60+	2 (2.4)
Traininga
EMT basic	6 (7.2)
EMT intermediate	1 (1.2)
EMT paramedic	76 (91.6)
Years on the job
0-2	1 (1.2)
3-5	12 (14.3)
6-10	13 (15.5)
11-15	15 (17.9)
>15	43 (51.2)

^aOne individual did not respond to the question regarding training. EMT, emergency medical technician.

Correlation With Demographic Variables

PCL-5 scores were significantly and negatively correlated with age (r=–0.22, n=84, P<0.05) but not with years on the job (r=–0.17, n=84, P=0.12), sex (r=0.04, n=84, P=0.71), or professional exposure to traumatic experiences (r=0.10, n=84, P=0.36). Grit Scale scores were not significantly correlated with age (r=–0.19, n=84, P=0.08), years on the job (r=–0.18, n=84, P=0.11), sex (r=–0.20, n=84, P=0.07), or professional exposure to traumatic experiences (r=–0.06, n=84, P=0.58). Linear regression revealed that none of the demographic variables or professional exposure was statistically significantly predictive of the total Grit Scale score (adjusted R²=0.21, F(4,79)=1.45, P<0.22). A second linear regression that included the total Grit Scale score and demographic variables revealed that only the Grit Scale score significantly predicted PCL-5 scores (adjusted R²=0.35, F(5,78)=8.37, P<0.001).

Predicting Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Table 2 presents a correlation matrix including the Brief COPE scales, the total Grit Scale score, and the PCL-5 score. The PCL-5 score was significantly negatively correlated with the Grit Scale score and emotional support. The PCL-5 score was significantly positively correlated with self-distraction, denial, substance abuse, disengagement, venting, and self-blame. The Grit Scale score was significantly negatively correlated with self-distraction, denial, substance abuse, disengagement, religion, and self-blame. The Grit Scale score was significantly positively correlated with active coping and acceptance. Five of the Brief COPE scales were significantly and negatively correlated with the Grit Scale score and positively correlated with the PCL-5 score.

Table 2.

Correlations between PCL-5 and Grit Scale Scores and BRIEF Cope Scale Scores

Scale	PCL-5	Total Grit Scale Score
Total Grit Scale score	–0.568***	1.00
BRIEF Cope scale scores
Self-distraction	0.266**	–0.252*
Active coping	–0.206	0.354***
Denial	0.219*	–0.288*
Substance abuse	0.510**	–0.361***
Emotional support	–0.255*	0.125
Instrumental support	–0.095	–0.001
Disengagement	0.580***	–0.334**
Venting	0.271**	–0.149
Reframing	–0.125	0.163
Planning	0.079	0.124
Humor	0.088	0.057
Acceptance	–0.131	0.266**
Religion	0.198	–0.242*
Self-blame	0.521***	–0.248*

PCL-5, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5.

Note: *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001.

Hierarchical linear regression established that PCL-5 scores were statistically significantly predicted by Brief COPE scale scores (step 1: F(14,68)=8.59, P<0.001). Overall, the 14 Brief COPE scale scores accounted for 56.4% of the variance. In step 2, total Grit Scale score was added to the equation, and the model was statistically significant (adjusted R²=0.617, F(15,67)=9.81, P<0.001). The total Grit Scale score contributed an additional 4.8% of the variance (adjusted R²_change=0.048; F_change(1,67)=10.35, P<0.01). Examination of the coefficients revealed that only the total Grit Scale score (β=–0.295, t=–3.127, P=0.002) and the following Brief COPE scale scores were significant predictors of PCL-5 score: denial (β=–0.185, t=–2.098, P=0.04), substance abuse (β=0.271, t=3.165, P=0.002), disengagement (β=0.393, t=4.266, P<0.001), and self-blame (β=0.34, t=3.352, P=0.001) (Table 3).

Table 3.

Final Multiple Regression Model of the Effects of Coping and Grit Scale Scores on PCL-5 Scores

Model	β	t	P Value
Disengagement	0.393	4.266	0.000
Self-blame	0.34	3.352	0.001
Total Grit Scale score	–0.295	–3.127	0.002
Substance abuse	0.271	3.165	0.002
Denial	–0.185	–2.098	0.040
Planning	–0.168	–1.712	0.092
Emotional support	–0.134	–1.481	0.143
Humor	0.095	1.278	0.206
Religion	–0.047	–0.586	0.560
Instrumental support	0.046	0.406	0.686
Venting	0.042	0.538	0.593
Acceptance	0.039	0.407	0.685
Active coping	0.028	0.295	0.769
Reframing	0.006	0.072	0.943
Self-distraction	–0.002	–0.027	0.978

PCL-5, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5.

DISCUSSION

Our study examined the relationship among grit, coping mechanisms, demographic variables, professional exposure, and self-reported PTSD symptoms among EMS workers, with an interest in understanding the contribution of grit to resilience as measured by PCL-5 self-reported symptoms. Our study had 3 key findings. First, higher Grit Scale scores were significantly predictive of lower PCL-5 scores. Second, the Grit Scale score was significantly correlated with 8 scales of the Brief COPE. Of the 8 scales correlated with grit, 5 scales were also significantly correlated with PCL-5 scores. Interestingly, these 5 scales measured maladaptive coping mechanisms that were negatively correlated with Grit Scale score and positively correlated with PTSD symptoms. Finally, hierarchical linear regression analysis revealed that Grit Scale score was significantly and uniquely predictive of PTSD symptoms after controlling for coping mechanisms.

The mean Grit Scale score for EMS personnel in our sample was 3.46. This score is consistent with means for adults aged 25 years and older in the research by Duckworth et al.¹¹ Therefore, as a whole, EMS personnel do not appear to demonstrate significantly more or less grit than the general population.

Our results indicate a significant relationship between higher Grit Scale scores and lower self-reported PTSD symptoms in EMS personnel. There are several possible explanations for why individuals who indicate higher grit tend to be more resilient. Individuals who report more grit may develop mechanisms for coping with adversity that foster well-being and protect against psychopathology. Alternatively, resilient individuals are those who persist in the face of obstacles and continue to pursue their passions, so their resilience may lead to greater grit over time. Further studies are necessary to understand the impact of the construct of grit on resilience. Despite the preliminary nature of our findings, they are consistent with data indicating that Grit Scale scores of medical residents predict lower burnout and greater psychological well-being 6 months after the baseline assessment¹³ and that higher Grit Scale scores are associated with lower surgical resident attrition.¹⁴

An additional implication of the current data is that EMTs/paramedic workers with lower Grit Scale scores may need additional support, including skills training to enhance coping strategies. This study demonstrated clear relationships between disengagement, self-blame, substance abuse, self-distraction, and denial as coping mechanisms with increased reported PTSD symptom severity and decreased grit. Alternatively, emotional support was negatively associated with PTSD symptoms. Incorporating informal debriefing sessions into postcall routines may be an important mechanism for bolstering resilience among EMS personnel.

Limitations of the current study include a response rate of 49%. Because we only used self-report questionnaires, we were unable to determine whether individuals met clinical criteria for PTSD. Further, EMTs/paramedic personnel were selected from only one employer that agreed to cooperate with the research team, limiting the generalizability of these findings.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, our results are the first to examine the relationship between grit and PTSD symptoms. Our findings suggest that EMTs/paramedics with greater grit tend to endorse fewer symptoms of PTSD. The implication of this finding is that grit is associated with resilience. Further, our preliminary data suggest that grit is related to, but distinct from, other constructs that predict resilience, such as coping mechanisms. Large prospective studies could have significant implications for EMT/paramedic hiring practices and for strategies to build grit in existing EMT/paramedic personnel to bolster resilience.

This article meets the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the American Board of Medical Specialties Maintenance of Certification competencies for Medical Knowledge and Interpersonal and Communication Skills.