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http://dx.doi.org/10.7731/KIFSE.2015.29.6.139

How Empowerment and Social Support Affect Occupational Stress of Firefighters  

Shin, Hyojin (Dept. of Social Work, Kyungil Univ.)
Publication Information
Fire Science and Engineering / v.29, no.6, 2015 , pp. 139-146 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study surveyed 230 firefighters working in Dae Gu City and Kyung Sang Buk Do in order to analyze the influence of social support and empowerment on occupational stress and its sub-categories. The study results show that occupational stress is reduced for firefighters when there is more social support and empowerment. For subcategory variables of occupational stress, occupational autonomy stress was influenced only by empowerment. Stress related to lack of compensation and stress from the organization's culture were influenced the most greatly by social support. The weekly fre quency of emergency mobilization and years of working were also found to influence occupational stress and its subcategory variables. The group difference analysis revealed that the fire department had a significantly higher occupational stress than the first-aid department, and 4 to 7 weekly emergency mobilizations corresponded to significantly higher occupational stress than 8 or more weekly emergency mobilizations. Based on the study results, stress management programs focused on increasing social support and empowerment for firefighters are suggested.
Keywords
Empowerment; Social support; Occupational stress; Firefighters;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 3  (Citation Analysis)
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