Firefighters: psychopathology and working conditions

Abstract

Firefighters perform all kinds of rescues. Their job places them in potentially traumatic situations which may cause work-related mental disorders. This study aimed to investigate the working conditions and mental health of firefighters in Southern Brazil. The research subjects included 25 men and 2 women. The authors analyzed the anxiety, depression, alcohol use, post-traumatic stress disorder, and work environment of the firefighters, by means of scales, a questionnaire and an interview. Descriptive analysis and correlation measures were used, based on the variables of interest and content analysis. The results indicated that these professionals need higher salaries, better equipment and more training. Personal valorization and conversations with superiors were cited as positive aspects. Regarding the main aim of the study, the authors found correlations between alcohol abuse and length of service, alcohol abuse and age, and depression and age. These data suggested that there is emotional wear related to the profession, and the need of psychological support.

Selected personality dimensions and occupational burnout in the group of professional and volunteer firefighters

“…Strażacy ochotnicy są nastawieni bardziej na akcyjność, oczekują podziwu i akceptacji dla swych działań. Te wskaźniki korespondują z możliwością szybszego wypalenia zawodowego [29,30].…”

Evoking emotions in virtual reality: schema activation via a freeze-frame stimulus

“…Children are a special type of victimthe reaction of caretaking triggered by a child is evolutionary (Glocker et al 2009;Miesler et al 2011). Firefighters report that when the victim is a child, they immediately think of children they know (Monteiro et al 2013). The second freeze frame we chose was the situation described in the above quotation-a car accident involving a bride-to-be which was selected due to the reported strong impact on the emotions of a participant of the qualitative study.…”

Revisão sistemática da produção acadêmica em Psicologia do Trabalho no Brasil

“…Outro estudo focou na análise das condições de trabalho e a saúde mental de bombeiros, sendo apontadas correlações entre consumo de álcool e tempo de serviço, uso dessa substância e idade, e entre depressão e idade, sugerindo um desgaste emocional associado à atividade profissional (Monteiro, Abs, Labres, Maus, & Pioner, 2013). E o terceiro estudo investigou a prevalência e a relação entre consumo de medicamentos e de psicofármacos, uso de substâncias e fatores laborais entre trabalhadores bancários (Gaviraghi, De Antoni, Amazarray, & Schaefer, 2016).…”