J Prev Med Public Health.
2019 Nov;52(6):345-354. 10.3961/jpmph.19.116.
Effect of Burnout on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Among Firefighters in Korea: Data From the Firefighter Research on Enhancement of Safety & Health (FRESH)
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. preman@yuhs.ac
- 2Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yonsei University Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
- 4Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Occupational Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 5Department of Dental Hygiene, Hanyang Women’s University, Seoul, Korea.
- 6Department of Biostatistics and Computing, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
- 7Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
- 8Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
- 9Institute of Human Complexity and Systems Science, Yonsei University, Incheon, Korea.
- KMID: 2465369
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.19.116
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
It is well-known that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among firefighters contributes to their job-related stress. However, the relationship between burnout and PTSD in firefighters has rarely been studied. This study therefore explored the association between burnout and its related factors, such as trauma and violence, and PTSD symptoms among firefighters in Korea.
METHODS
A total of 535 firefighters participated in the Firefighter Research on Enhancement of Safety & Health study at 3 university hospitals from 2016 to 2017. The 535 participants received a baseline health examination, including questionnaires assessing their mental health. A Web-based survey was also conducted to collect data on job-related stress, history of exposure to violence, burnout, and trauma experience. The associations among burnout, its related factors, and PTSD symptoms were investigated using structural equation modeling.
RESULTS
Job demands (β=0.411, p<0.001) and effort-reward balance (β=-0.290, p<0.001) were significantly related to burnout. Burnout (β=0.237, p<0.001) and violence (β=0.123, p=0.014) were significantly related to PTSD risk. Trauma (β=0.131, p=0.001) was significantly related to burnout; however, trauma was not directly associated with PTSD scores (β=0.085, p=0.081).
CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that burnout and psychological, sexual, and physical violence at the hands of clients directly affected participants' PTSD symptoms. Burnout mediated the relationship between trauma experience and PTSD.
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