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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01-01-2018 | Original Article

Relationship between burnout and PTSD symptoms in firefighters: the moderating effects of a sense of calling to firefighting

Authors: Insung Jo, Songhee Lee, Gyhye Sung, Minkyoung Kim, Sanghyuk Lee, Jooeon Park, Kangsoo Lee

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Purpose

Firefighting has been reported to lead to burnout and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, burnout and PTSD symptoms may vary depending on personal characteristics, such as having a sense of calling. This study examined the role of calling in the association between burnout and PTSD symptoms. We hypothesized that burnout would be associated with more severe PTSD symptoms and calling would buffer the relationship between burnout and PTSD symptoms.

Methods

The Korean version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, Sense of Calling Subscale of the Professionalism Scale, and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised-Korean version were used to measure burnout, calling, and PTSD symptoms. Data from 109 of 127 firefighters from Gyeonggi-do, South Korea were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression.

Results

Burnout was a significant predictor of PTSD symptoms. Furthermore, the interaction term between burnout and calling accounted for a significant variance in PTSD symptoms. Higher burnout was associated with severe PTSD symptoms, but this relationship differed by the level of calling. The increase in PTSD symptoms due to increased burnout in the high calling group was relatively higher than in the low and average calling groups.

Conclusions

Calling, though perceived as a positive variable, can be hazardous to exhausted people. A sense of calling as part of one’s job identity should not be encouraged until personal circumstances and characteristics, such burnout symptoms, are evaluated. Identifying context and variables associated with PTSD for interventions with firefighters and persons in other dangerous occupations should aid in their recovery from trauma exposure.

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Title: Relationship between burnout and PTSD symptoms in firefighters: the moderating effects of a sense of calling to firefighting
Authors: Insung Jo
Songhee Lee
Gyhye Sung
Minkyoung Kim
Sanghyuk Lee
Jooeon Park
Kangsoo Lee
Publication date: 01-01-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-017-1263-6

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Relationship between burnout and PTSD symptoms in firefighters: the moderating effects of a sense of calling to firefighting

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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