Sources of Occupational Stress Among Firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/Paramedics and Correlations with Job-related Outcomes

Abstract

Introduction/Objective:This paper reports the results of an initial effort to develop and test measure of the various sources of job-related stress in firefighter and paramedic emergenc service workers.Methods:A 57-item paper and pencil measure of occupational stressor in firefighter/Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and firefighter/paramedics was developed and administered by anonymous mail survey.Results:More than 2,000 (50% rate of return) emergency service workers comple and returned the surveys. The responses of 1,730 firefighter/EMTs and 253 firefighter/paramedics were very similar in terms of the degree to which job stressors were bothersome. A factor analysis of replies yielded 14 statistically independent “Occupational Stressor” factors which together accounted for 66.3% of the instrument's variance. These Sources of Occupational Stress (SOOS) factor scale scores essentially did not correlate with a measure the social desirability test-taking bias. Finall SOOS factors were identified that correlated with job satisfaction and work-related morale of the respondents. Conflict with administration was the job stressor factor that most strongly correlated with reports of low job satisfaction and poor work morale in both study groups.Conclusion:The findings suggest that firefighter and paramedic job stress is very complicated and multi-faceted. Based on this preliminary investigation, the SOOS instrument appears to have adequate reliability and concurrent validity.

Work-related post-traumatic stress disorder

“…Firefighters may be exposed to both direct and indirect stressors, such as risking own life when entering a burning building and witnessing the suffering of others. A PTSD prevalence reaching 20% has been described in this group [29,30].…”

Management and the creation ofoccupational stressors in an Australian and a UK Ambulance Service

“…The expressed stressors from one service, which has a relatively high turnover rate, were grouped together as "problems with management". They were not the stressors given precedent in the literature, such as highly responsible work in life and death situations, working all hours and the risk of experiencing that which is labelled Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (see for example Joseph et al 1997;Beaton & Murphy 1993;Everly & Lating 1995).…”

Health hazard evaluation report: evaluation of fire fighters' mental health symptoms and exposure to traumatic events, job stress, and bloodborne pathogens.

“…Not only is the job inherently stressful because of the high level of risk involved, but the fire fighters are also faced with psychosocial stressors that contribute to their perceived stress levels, such as limited resources, being understaffed, and concerns about their job security, pay, and benefits. Fire fighter stress is complicated and multifaceted, as a mixture of traumatic experiences and daily working conditions such as administrative and organizational factors can affect fire fighters' mental health, job satisfaction, and morale [Beaton and Murphy 1993;Corneil et al 1999].…”