Safety and Health at Work

Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (산업안전보건연구원)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychological Well-Being of Firefighters

  • Received : 2022.12.01
  • Accepted : 2023.06.10
  • Published : 2023.09.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic represented a unique stressful event that affected the physical health and psychological well-being (PWB) of individuals and communities. Monitoring PWB is essential not only to clarify the burden on mental health effects but also to define targeted psychological-supporting measures. This cross-sectional study evaluated the PWB of Italian firefighters during the pandemic. Methods: Firefighters recruited during the pandemic period filled out a self-administered questionnaire, the Psychological General Well-Being Index, during the health surveillance medical examination. This tool is usually used to assess the global PWB and explores six subdomains: anxiety, depressed mood, positive well-being, self-control, general health, and vitality. The influencing roles of age, gender, working activities, COVID-19, and pandemic restrictive measures were also explored. Results: A total of 742 firefighters completed the survey. The aggregate median PWB global score was in the 'no distress"" range (94.3 ± 10.3), which was higher than that observed in studies conducted using the same tool in the Italian general population during the same pandemic period. Similar findings were observed in the specific subdomains, thus suggesting that the investigated population was in good PWB condition. Interestingly, significantly better outcomes were detected in the younger firefighters. Conclusion: Our data showed a satisfactory PWB situation in firefighters that could be related to different professional factors such as work organization and mental and physical training. In particular, our results would suggest the hypothesis that in firefighters, maintaining a minimum/moderate level of physical activity (consisting of even just going to work) might have a profoundly positive impact on psychological health and well-being.

Keywords

References

  1. World Health Organization (WHO). Mental health and COVID-19: early evidence of the pandemic's impact. Scientific Brief 2022;2. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-Sci_Brief-Mental_health-2022.1.Accessed 11 March 2022. 
  2. Brooks SK, Webster RK, Smith LE, Woodland L, Wessely S, Greenberg N, Rubin GJ. The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. Lancet 2020;395(10227):912-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30460-8. 
  3. Bueno-Notivol J, Gracia-Garcia P, Olaya B, Lasheras I, Lopez-Anton R, Santabarbara J. Prevalence of depression during the COVID-19 outbreak: a meta-analysis of community-based studies. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2020;21(1):100196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2020.07.007. 
  4. Galea S, Merchant RM, Lurie N. The mental health consequences of COVID-19 and physical distancing: the need for prevention and early intervention. JAMA Intern Med 2020;180(6):817-8. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1562. 
  5. Giallonardo V, Sampogna G, Del Vecchio V, Luciano M, Albert U, Carmassi C, Carra G, Cirulli F, Dell'Osso B, Nanni MG, Pompili M, Sani G, Tortorella A, Volpe U, Fiorillo A. The impact of quarantine and physical distancing following COVID-19 on mental health: study protocol of a multicentric Italian population trial. Front Psychiatry 2020;11:533. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00533. 
  6. Santomauro DF, Mantilla Herrera AM, Shadid J, Zheng P, Ashbaugh C, Pigott DM. COVID-19 Mental Disorders Collaborators. Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and territories in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet 2021;398(10312):1700-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02143-7. 
  7. Soltani S, Tabibzadeh A, Zakeri A, Zakeri AM, Latifi T, Shabani M, Pouremamali A, Erfani Y, Pakzad I, Malekifar P, Valizadeh R, Zandi M, Pakzad R. COVID-19 associated central nervous system manifestations, mental and neurological symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Neurosci 2021;32(3):351-61. https://doi.org/10.1515/revneuro-2020-0108. 
  8. Vindegaard N, Benros ME. COVID-19 pandemic and mental health consequences: systematic review of the current evidence. Brain Behav Immun 2020;89:531-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.048. 
  9. Favieri F, Forte G, Tambelli R, Casagrande M. The Italians in the time of coronavirus: psychosocial aspects of the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychiatry 2021;12:551924. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.551924. 
  10. Fari G, Di Paolo S, Ungaro D, Luperto G, Fari E, Latino F. The impact of COVID19 on sport and daily activities in an Italian cohort of football school children. Int J Athl Ther Train 2021;26:274-8. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijatt.2020-0066. 
  11. Guidetti M, Averna A, Castellini G, Dini M, Marino D, Bocci T, Ferrucci R, Priori A. Physical activity during COVID-19 lockdown: data from an Italian survey. Healthcare 2021;9(5):513. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9050513. 
  12. Maugeri G, Castrogiovanni P, Battaglia G, Pippi R, D'Agata V, Palma A, Di Rosa M, Musumeci G. The impact of physical activity on psychological health during COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Heliyon 2020;6(6):e04315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04315. 
  13. Rossi C, Bonanomi A, Oasi O. Psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: the influence of personality traits in the Italian population. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021;18(11):5862. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115862. 
  14. Iavicoli S, Boccuni F, Buresti G, Gagliardi D, Persechino B, Valenti A, Rondinone BM. Risk assessment at work and prevention strategies on COVID-19 in Italy. PLoS One 2021;16(3):e0248874. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248874. 
  15. Lovreglio P, Leso V, Riccardi E, Stufano A, Pacella D, Cagnazzo F, Ercolano ML, Iavicoli I. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: the psychological wellbeing in a cohort of workers of a multinational company. Saf Health Work 2021;13(1):66-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2021.10.006. 
  16. Pink J, Gray NS, O'Connor C, Knowles JR, Simkiss NJ, Snowden RJ. Psychological distress and resilience in first responders and health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Occup Organ Psychol 2021;94(4):789-807. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12364. 
  17. Ghio L, Patti S, Piccinini G, Modafferi C, Lusetti E, Mazzella M, Del Sette M. Anxiety, depression and risk of post-traumatic stress disorder in health workers: the relationship with burnout during COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021;18(18):9929. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189929. 
  18. Luo M, Guo L, Yu M, Jiang W, Wang H. The psychological and mental impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on medical staff and general public - a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res 2020;291:113190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113190. 
  19. Magni M, Maiorano T, Giostra V, Pajardi D, Bartone P. Emergency stress, hardiness, coping strategies and burnout in health care and emergency response workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychol 2022;13:918788. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.918788. 
  20. Grossi E, Mosconi P, Groth N, Niero M, Apolone G. Questionario psychological general well-being index: versione italiana. Milano: Istituto Farmacologico Mario Negri; 2002. 
  21. Maiorano T, Vagni M, Giostra V, Pajardi D. Risk factors and protective role of resilience and coping strategies for emergency stress and secondary trauma in medical staff and emergency workers-an online-based inquiry. Sustainability 2020;12(21):9004. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219004. 
  22. Jones S, Agud K, McSweeney J. Barriers and facilitators to seeking mental health care among first responders: "removing the darkness". J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc 2020;26(1):43-54. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390319871997. 
  23. Grant DM, Beck JG, Marques L, Palyo SA, Clapp JD. The structure of distress following trauma: posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. J Abnorm Psychol 2008;117(3):662-72. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012591. 
  24. Van Der Ploeg E, Kleber RJ. Acute and chronic job stressors among ambulance personnel: predictors of health symptoms. Occup Environ Med 2003;60(1):40-6. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.60.suppl_1.i40. 
  25. Lourel M, Abdellaoui S, Chevaleyre S, Paltrier M, Gana K. Relationships between psychological job demands, job control and burnout among Firefighters. North Am J Psychol 2008;10(3):489-96. 
  26. Carey MG, Al-Zaiti SS, Dean GE, Sessanna L, Finnell DS. Sleep problems, depression, substance use, social bonding, and quality of life in professional firefighters. J Occup Environ Med 2011;53(8):928-33. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e318225898f. 
  27. Hom MA, Stanley IH, Rogers ML, Tzoneva M, Bernert RA, Joiner TE. The association between sleep disturbances and depression among firefighters: emotion dysregulation as an explanatory factor. J Clin Sleep Med 2016;12(2):235-45. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.5492. 
  28. Martin CE, Vujanovic AA, Paulus DJ, Bartlett B, Gallagher MW, Tran JK. Alcohol use and suicidality in firefighters: associations with depressive symptoms and posttraumatic stress. Compr Psychiat 2017;74:44-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.01.002. 
  29. Stanley IH, Hom MA, Spencer-Thomas S, Joiner TE. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among women firefighters: an examination of associated features and comparison of pre-career and career prevalence rates. J Affect Disord 2017;221:107-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.06.016. 
  30. Tommasi M, Conte MM, Saggino A. Stress, psychological disease, psychological well-being and personality in Italian firefighters compared to other working categories. Cogent Psychol 2021;8(1):1912249. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2021.1912249. 
  31. Del Sal M, Barbieri E, Garbati P, Sisti D, Rocchi MB, Stocchi V. Physiologic responses of firefighter recruits during a supervised live-fire work performance test. J Strength Cond Res 2009;23(8):2396-404. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181bb72c0. 
  32. Schaufeli WB, Salanova M, Gonzalez-Roma V, Bakker AB. The measurement of engagement and burnout: a confirmative analytic approach. J Happiness Stud 2002;3(1):71-92. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015630930326. 
  33. O'Rourke N, Hyland JM. Coping strategies employed by Irish firefighters, association with stress and anxiety, and the use of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) support. DBS Business Rev 2021;4. https://doi.org/10.22375/dbr.v4i0.75. 
  34. Young PM, Partington S, Wetherell MA, St Clair Gibson A, Partington E. Stressors and coping strategies of U.K. firefighters during on-duty incidents. Stress Health 2014;30(5):366-76. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2616. 
  35. Nydegger R, Nydegger L, Basile F. Post-traumatic stress disorder and coping among career professional firefighters. Am J Health Sci 2011;2(1):11-20. https://doi.org/10.19030/ajhs.v2i1.4365. 
  36. Varvel SJ, He Y, Shannon JK, Tager D, Bledman RA, Chaichanasakul A, Mendoza MM, Mallinckrodt B. Multidimensional, threshold effects of social support in firefighters: is more support invariably better? J Couns Psychol 2007;54(4):458-65. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.54.4.458. 
  37. Paltell KC, Bing-Canar H, Ranney RM, Tran JK, Berenz EC, Vujanovic AA. Anxiety sensitivity moderates the effect of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms on emotion dysregulation among trauma-exposed firefighters. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 2019;41(3):524-35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-019-09731-4. 
  38. Lalic H, Bukmir L, Ferhatovic M. Examining psychic consequences in firefighters exposed to stress. Coll Antropol 2007;31(2):451-5. 
  39. Johnson M. The vulnerability status of neuroticism: over-reporting or genuine complaints? Pers Individ Dif 2003;35(4):877-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00303-3. 
  40. Smillie LD, Yeo GB, Furnham AF, Jackson CJ. Benefits of all work and no play: the relationship between neuroticism and performance as a function of resource allocation. J Appl Psychol 2006;91(1):139-55. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.91.1.139. 
  41. Mutambudzi M, Flowers P, Demou E. Emergency personnel neuroticism, health and lifestyle: a UK Biobank study. Occup Med (Lond) 2019;69(8-9):617-24. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqz169. 
  42. Tamir M. Don't worry, be happy? Neuroticism, trait-consistent affect regulation, and performance. J Pers Soc Psychol 2005;89(3):449-61. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.89.3.449. 
  43. Wilson JM, Lee J, Fitzgerald HN, Oosterhoff B, Sevi B, Shook NJ. Job insecurity and financial concern during the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with worse mental health. J Occup Environ Med 2020;62(9):686-91. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001962. 
  44. Petzold MB, Bendau A, Plag J, Pyrkosch L, Mascarell Maricic L, Betzler F, Rogoll J, Grosse J, Strohle A. Risk, resilience, psychological distress, and anxiety at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Brain Behav 2020;10(9):e01745. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1745. 
  45. Vancampfort D, De Soir E, van Winkel R, Louw QA, McKeon G, Rosenbaum S, Seedat S, Ramos-Sanchez CP. Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and mental health outcomes in firefighters: a cross-sectional study. J Workplace Behav 2023. https://doi.org/10.1080/15555240.2023.2191203. Health Published online: 17 Mar. 
  46. Richards J, Jiang X, Kelly P, Chau J, Bauman A, Ding D. Don't worry, be happy: cross-sectional associations between physical activity and happiness in 15 European countries. BMC Public Health 2015;15(1):53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889- 015-1391-4. 
  47. Goh KK, Jou S, Lu ML, Yeh LC, Kao YF, Liu CM, Kan BL. Younger, more senior, and most vulnerable? Interaction effects of age and job seniority on psychological distress and quality of life among firefighters. Psychol Trauma 2021;13(1):56-65. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000662. 
  48. Birditt KS, Turkelson A, Fingerman KL, Polenick CA, Oya A. Age differences in stress, life changes, and social ties during the COVID-19 pandemic: implications for psychological well-being. Gerontologist 2021;61(2):205-16. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa204. 
  49. Gulliver SB, Zimering RT, Knight J, Morissette SB, Kamholz BW, Pennington ML, Dobani F, Carpenter TP, Kimbrel NA, Keane TM, Meyer EC. A prospective study of firefighters' PTSD and depression symptoms: the first 3 years of service. Psychol Trauma 2021;13(1):44-55. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000980. 
  50. Regehr C, Hill J, Knott T, Sault B. Social support, self-efficacy and trauma in new recruits and experienced firefighters. Stress Health 2003;19(4):189-93. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.974.