Rescue Personality among Voluntary Emergency Services in Ireland; a Cross-sectional Study Using the Five-Factor Model

McBride, Susan (2018) Rescue Personality among Voluntary Emergency Services in Ireland; a Cross-sectional Study Using the Five-Factor Model. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

The study aimed investigate rescue personality in an Irish context, by examining (1) the relationship between OCEAN trait scores, and volunteer status (emergency volunteer, or non-volunteer), length of service, and weekly hours volunteering, and (2) sex differences in trait scores among emergency volunteers and a community sample. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit a sample of 77 emergency volunteers (52 males, and 25 females) from a range of Irish voluntary emergency service organisations. This research was cross-sectional, and quantitative. Participants completed the IPIP-NEO-120 personality measure online. Descriptive statistics investigated group characteristics of the sample, and the distribution of trait scores. Using independent samples t-tests, and binary logistic regression, it was found that as hypothesised volunteers score higher on extraversion and conscientiousness, but lower on neuroticism, openness, and agreeableness, than the community sample. Significant (p<.001) medium to large differences between volunteers and community individuals were found on all traits except extraversion. The regression model of the five traits was also significant in predicting belonging to the two groups (p=.00). Correlation results supported a predisposition model of rescue personality (p>.08). Implications for the expansion of rescue personality theory, stress interventions, and emergency training are discussed, and suggestions made for future research.

Item Type:	Thesis (Undergraduate)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Non Profit Organisations. Voluntary Sector.
Divisions:	School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User:	Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited:	23 Oct 2018 10:06
Last Modified:	23 Oct 2018 10:06
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/3279

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