• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.71-85
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship among the variables, personality type, stress, and job satisfaction in firefighters. Methods: The questionnaire research was conducted for field service firefighters who work in two cities for the period of June 20, 2005 through July 20, 2005. A total number of 308 data were used for this analysis. For analysis of the data, the SPSSWIN 10.0 program was used to analyze descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, t-test and one-way ANOVA. Results: The mean score of subjects' stress was 3.30 and the mean score of job satisfaction was 2.86. There were significant differences on stress and job satisfaction by general characteristics. Stress was significantly differed by field of working. Job satisfaction was significantly differed by marital status and field of working. Also, there were significant differences on stress and job satisfaction by characteristics related to working. Stress was significantly differed by sleeping time at night shift, witness their superior's or companion's death or injury, and a threat to death or injury. Job satisfaction was significantly differed by an aptitude for field of working and wish to change the field of working. But there was no significant differences on stress and job satisfaction by personality type. There was statistically significant negative correlation between stress and job satisfaction. Conclusion: Strategies that can decrease their stress need to be developed to increase job satisfaction.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2019

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the individual and job related factors as risk factors for mental health of firefighters. Methods : The data of 202 fire-fighters was analyzed by using a multinomial logistic regression analysis. All participants completed self-reported questionnaires including demographics (sex, age, work duration), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Ways of Coping Checklist, the Colleague related traumatic events, the Korean occupational stress scale, the Korean Perceived Stress Scale-10, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Participants were divided into three groups according to the level of stress and depressive symptom scores: Low Stress-Low Depression (LS-LD), High Stress-Low Depression (HS-LD), and High Stress-High Depression (HS-HD). Results : A job related factor-organizational injustice-was a significant factor related to HS-LD, while individual factors such as active coping level and childhood trauma experience and a job related factor-difficult physical environment-were significantly associated with HS-HD. Conclusion : These results imply the need to take both individual and environmental approaches into account when managing the stress and depression of firefighters. More specifically, psycho-education to facilitate active coping strategy and adaptive emotional regulation at the individual level and the improvement of physical work environment of firefighters should be supported.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.61-72
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• 2009

Purpose : This study aimed to analyze the posttraumatic stress research trends in Korean and foreign firefighters. Method : Total 63 published international articles were searched by Pub Med internet site and total 17 published Korean articles were searched by Korean Medical Database internet site using 'PTSD in firefighters'. These articles were analyzed by published time, domains of journal, research designs, key words and research subjects. Result : 1) By the published time, there were 29 disaster-related researches(46.0%) and 34 job-related researches(54.0%) among 63 international articles. However, there were 16 disaster-related researches(94.1%) and 1 job-related research (5.9%) of Korean 17 articles. 2) By the international research domain, 9 researches(14.3%) were published in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. Among domestic research domain, there were 9 researches(52.9%) consisting of 6 master's degrees and 3 doctor degrees. In major analysis of Korean domain, the highest portion is 4 psychology researches. (23.5%) 3) In the term of the international research design, quantitative research methods were highly used in both 23 disaster-related researches (36.5%) and 30 job-related researches(47.5%). In domestic research, quantitative research methods were mostly used in 14 job-related researches(82.3%) and Q methodology was only used in 1 disaster-related research(5.9%). 4) Looking on the research content trends according to the key words, 9 researches (31.0%) done on posttraumatic stress and coping had the most research and was followed up by posttraumatic stress symptom. Among these researches, key words for PTSD(Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) and PTS(Posttraumatic Stress) were mostly used. Moreover, there was 1 domestic study done on verifying the trends of Posttraumatic Stress in disaster-related research with PTS as the key word. In job-related research, the relationship between the Posttraumatic Stress and other factors had the most with ten studies (62.5%). Among these researches, key words for 5 PTSD(31.3%) were mostly used. 5) According to the international research subjects, the Posttrau consist the most subjects with 16 cases each for disaster and job related stress ; however, domestic research had 16 studies(94.1%) only using firefighters and 1 (5.9%) with their families as subjects. Conclusion : Although the studies of Posttraumatic Stress on Korean firefighters had started later than those on Foreign firefighters, first used for crucial topics show research development in various fields of study and should be tested for studies like those done in abroad regarding multiple topics and methods.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.133-138
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• 2010

This study is aimed to investigate the relationship between job-related stressor, problem solving style and psychological distress and the effects of job-related stress and problem solving style on psychological distress of firefighters. The Job-related Stress Scale, Problem Solving Style Questionnaire, and the Symptom Checklist-Revised (SCL-90-R) were administered to 148 firefighters working in Seoul and Gyounggi. Correlation analysis revealed that job-related stress, problem-solving styles such as helplessness and problem-solving control correlated positively with psychological distress and that problem-solving confidence and approaching style correlated negatively with it. Multiple regression analysis showed that job-related negative cognition and emotion, helplessness and approaching style accounted for 43% of the variance in the psychological distress. Among problem-solving styles, helplessness had the highest predictive power for psychological distress. Self-reported helplessness is an important determinant of firefighters' reactions to problematic situations encountered in their job.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.79-88
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of personal, job, and health care characteristics of firefighters on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and job stress. This survey was participated 591 firefighters in jeonnam and Busan city. The survey consisted of 1) personal, job, and health care characteristics measurement, 2) job stress measurement (KOSS, Korean Occupational Stress Scale), 3) musculoskeletal disorders symptoms mesurement. The analysis of the data was using SAS 9.1 Ver. The statistics analysis was performed the frequency, percentage, average, and standard deviation for each survey item. The Chi square analysis was performed to analyzed the effects of personal, job, and health care characteristics on MSDs and job stress. According to the results of the study on musculoskeletal disorders symptoms, 49.6% of the subjects perceived pain related to musculoskeletal diseases. The total score for job stress was 51.6 (SD 12.9), which was the highest 50% when compared to the Korean job stress standard (male). Age, department, work experience, working type, position, and sleeping time were found to affect musculoskeletal disorders and job stress.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.137-152
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• 2021

Background and objective: This study was carried out to investigate and analyze the preference for plant fragrance and the psychological effects of a agro-healing activity in 101 firefighters aged 39.71 ± 10.94. Methods: For the psychological evaluation, post-traumatic stress symptoms, Korean occupational stress scale short form (KOSS-SF), emotional intelligence, and job satisfaction were surveyed on the Likert scale. For the preference for plant fragrances, 20 ㎕ of commercially available essential oils from four plant species (Mentha spp., Lavandula spp., Citrus limon, C. sinensis) were absorbed into each test paper and provided to the participants. Results: The rate of post-traumatic stress symptoms was high at 37.6% of the firefighters surveyed.. C. limon fragrance had the highest preference among the four plant fragrances, followed by C. sinensis > Mentha spp. > Lavandula spp. with statistically significant difference (F = 14.256, p < .001). The lower their age, income, and position, and higher the education level, the higher the preference for plant fragrances. And the administrative group had higher preference for plant fragrances than field group. In addition, as a result of examining the correlation between job satisfaction, preference for plant fragrance, post-traumatic stress, emotional intelligence, and job stress for fire-fighters, the higher the job satisfaction, the higher the fragrance preference and emotional intelligence, and the lower the post-traumatic stress and job stress. Conclusion: Therefore, installing a garden using botanical fragrances at workplaces that firefighters can easily access will improve job satisfaction and relieve stress. It can be concluded that applying the fragrance of plants to the healing farming activities at the fire-fighter's workplace can increase the usefulness of the healing activities.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.185-191
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• 2019

The use of smartphone improves convenience and efficiency in modern people's lives but threatens the mental health of individuals by manifesting an addiction phenomenon that is difficult for everyday life without a smartphone. In particular, it is suggested that the effects of the smartphone addiction of firefighters who have a high level of job stress due to work environment exposed to disaster and fire have a very negative effect on their personal well-being and job performance. Therefore, the analysis of the relationship between firefighters' smartphone addiction and stress will be helpful in examining the problems of stress management. This study analyzed the relationship and influence between smartphone addiction and stress of firefighters. Total study subjects were 230 and SPSS 20.0 was used. Statistical methods are group analysis (t-test and ANOVA) and multiple regression analysis. The results of this study show that firefighters' household type and monthly income have a significant effect on stress. Of the sub-factors of smartphone addiction, withdrawal experience has a statistically significant effect on stress. The results of the study will provide empirical data on the smartphone addiction of fire service employees.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.132-138
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• 2019

This study examined the drinking status to determine the relationship between the AUDIT-K (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Korean) and job stress of firefighters. The study subject was 267 firefighters in areas C, K, and P, who were surveyed to investigate their drinking status and job stress. According to the study, the AUDIT-K was 152 people (56.9%) in the normal drinking group and 115 people (43.1%) in the problem drinking group. The most frequent answer of the frequency of drinking was 83 people (31.1%) in the 2-4 times of a month; the amount of drinking was 10 cups or more by 101 people (37.8%) in one sitting; the frequency of heavy drinking was every day in 77 people (28.8%). High group of job stress showed a significantly higher odds ratio with the problem drinking group (OR = 5.458, 95% CI = 1.108-26.886). Among them, the interpersonal relation conflict was found to be a major factor affecting AUDIT-K (OR = .332, 95% CI = .134 - .820). Therefore, their AUDIT-K scores can be lowered by reducing the job stress and interpersonal relation conflicts.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4917-4926
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• 2012

This study was designed to assess the factor of influence to occupational stress who work in the field of firefighters and questionnaire was uesd to analyse the stress scores and find the primary factors influence to occupational stress. The number of respondents were 408 who received the refresher training and period of investigation was august 2011 through october 2011. A structured questionnaire was employed to evaluate the participants' socio-demographics, job-related factors, health-related behaviors, occupational stress, reaction factor (fatigue, job satisfaction) and buffer factor (social support). Occupational stress and fatigue were assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF) and the Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (MFS), respectively. The analysis showed that we found a strong correlation between fatigue, job satisfaction and occupational stress. Occupational stress was associated with an increased risk of fatigue and decreased the job satisfaction. In the multiple regression analysis(stepwise), main factor that influence to occupational stress were job satisfaction, gender, age, processing number for a day, exercise. In logistic regression analyses, a higher occupational stress was associated with higher odds of fatigue(High) and the odds was down by 15.0% after adjustment for job satisfaction, gender, age, processing number for a day, exercise. Thus, a job satisfaction promote program for the reduction of occupational stress and the promotion of firefighters's health is strongly recommended.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.433-442
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• 2020

This study established the relationship between job stress and burn-out syndrome of firefighters. The research targets were 582 firefighters who worked at five fire stations in the D metropolitan city. The survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire during the period from July 1st 2019 to September 30, 2019. On the correlation analysis, burn-out showed a significant positive correlation with job stress. On the results of the logistic regression anaylsis, the risk ratio of high levels of burn-out was significantly higher in the very high stress groups than that in the groups with low job stress. According to the multiple regression analysis, the factors having an influence on burn-out were gender, age, the specific level of job career, shift work, the physical burden of work, the sense of satisfaction with the work, consideration for quitting the job and job stress. These findings suggest that the job stress of firefighters is closely related to burn-out. This demands the development and implementation of programs that can properly control and curb the factors of job-stress.