Korean J Occup Health Nurs.  2017 Nov;26(4):218-226. 10.5807/kjohn.2017.26.4.218.

Effect of Post-traumatic Stress and Ways of Stress Coping on Problem Drinking in Firefighters

• Jeon KS
• Kang KA

• KMID: 2400945
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5807/kjohn.2017.26.4.218

Abstract

PURPOSE
The study aimed to determine the impact of post-traumatic stress and ways of stress coping on problem drinking in firefighters.
METHODS
Data were collected from May 11 to June 11, 2015, in fire brigades across South Korea. Participants were 183 male firefighters who used self-report questionnaires containing questions from the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Ways of Coping Checklist (WCC), and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Data were analyzed using χ2 test, t-test, and logistic regression with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program.
RESULTS
The prevalence of PTSD among firefighters was 36.7% and that of problem drinking was 39.3%. Firefighters with single (OR=0.23, 95% CI=0.038~1.321) and married status (OR=0.46, 95% CI=0.069~3.040) were less likely to have problem drinking than those who were divorced or bereavement. Those with invasion symptoms (OR=1.17, 95% CI=1.031~1.327) and hyperarousal symptoms (OR=0.85, 95% CI=0.722~0.989) were more likely to have problem drinking than those with avoidance symptoms.
CONCLUSION
Post-traumatic stress symptom was a major risk factor that increased problem drinking, and married status reduced problem drinking. There is a need to develop post-traumatic stress symptom management program and early education content for symptom management.

Keyword

Firefighter; Post-traumatic stress; Ways of stress coping; Problem drinking

MeSH Terms

Bereavement
Checklist
Divorce
Drinking*
Education
Firefighters*
Fires
Humans
Korea
Logistic Models
Male
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic