The Relationship among Job Stress, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation in Firefighters : Focusing on Mediating Effect of Depression

강원지역 소방공무원에서 직무스트레스, 우울 및 자살생각 간의 관련성 : 우울의 매개효과를 중심으로

Objective : The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship among job stress, depression, and suicidal ideation in firefighters, particularly the mediating effects of depression. Methods : The subjects were 2,136 firefighters in Gangwon-do, who completed the short form of Korean occupational stress scale (KOSS-SF), Korean version of the Beck depression inventory (K-BDI), and the revised scale for suicide ideation (SSI) online in mental health promotion service of firefighters. The data was analyzed with correlation analysis among the variables, and the multiple regression analysis method of Bar-on and Kenny (1986) was used. Results : Job stress showed positive correlations with depression (r=0.493, p <0.01) and suicidal ideation (r=0.296, p<0.01). Depression showed a positive correlation with suicidal ideation (r=0.561, p<0.01). The result of analyzing the mediating effect of depression showed that depression was a full mediator variable between job stress and suicidal ideation. Conclusion : Based on the results, it is very likely that job stress may affect suicidal ideation via depression. These results suggested that the preventive interventions emphasized on depression may be helpful for reduction of suicide in firefighters.