Latent Profiles of Big Five Personality Traits in First Responders: Associations with PTSD, Psychological Distress, Social Support, Attachment, and Emotion Regulation Strategies.
Journal of trauma & dissociation · 2026-08-05 · Observational study
Abstract
First responders are routinely exposed to trauma, elevating risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related psychological difficulties. Personality traits influence adjustment through appraisals, emotion regulation, attachment, and social support; however, their role in this population is understudied. A sample of 341 Portuguese first responders (80.1% male; mean age = 34.2) completed measures of Big Five traits, PTSD symptoms, distress, attachment, social support, and emotion regulation. Latent profile analysis identified four profiles. One, marked by high neuroticism and low conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness, showed greater PTSD (23.1%), distress, anxious attachment, poor regulation, and reduced support. Profiles with lower neuroticism and higher adaptive traits showed fewer trauma symptoms and stronger resources. Findings support the use of personality-informed prevention and tailored interventions.