Construction of a Post-traumatic Stress Model for Fire Fighters

Yoonjung Kim; Jeongyee Bae

doi:10.12934/jkpmhn.2012.21.4.282

Journal List > J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > v.21(4) > 1057952

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Kim and Bae: Construction of a Post-traumatic Stress Model for Fire Fighters

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 2012; 21(4): 282-291.

Published online: 31 December 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2012.21.4.282

Construction of a Post-traumatic Stress Model for Fire Fighters

Yoonjung Kim¹, Jeongyee Bae²

¹Department of Nursing, Choonhae College of Health Sciences, Ulsan · Department of Nursing, Dongseo University, Busan, Korea.

²Department of Nursing, Inje University, Busan, Korea.

Corresponding author: Kim, Yoonjung. Department of Nursing, Choonhae College of Health Sciences, Gokcheon-ri, Ungchon-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 689-784, Korea. Tel: +82-52-270-0170, Fax: +82-52-270-0189, jung_24@naver.com

Received 29 August 2012 Revised 23 October 2012 Accepted 20 November 2012

(open-access):

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine a hypothetical model designed to explain the influence of length of work experience, frequency of mobilization, traumatic events, and depression on post-traumatic stress (PTS) in Korean fire fighters.

Methods

In this study 2,181 fire fighters were surveyed and data collection was conducted from September 7 to September 30, 2009 using an structured questionnaire. SPSS and AMOS programs were used for descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and path analysis.

Results

Frequency of mobilization, traumatic events, and depression showed direct effects on PTS for fire fighters, while length of work experience showed an indirect effect on PTS for fire fighters. The variables of this modified model explained 47.9% of the variance in PTS.

Conclusion

Through this study the hypothetical model adequately explained PTS in fire fighters. Fire fighter's PTS can be decreased by managing long-term work experience, frequency of mobilization, traumatic events, and depression. Based on the outcomes of this study, it is necessary to develop a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) program for PTS.

Keywords: Fire fighters, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Depression

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Path coefficients of the hypothetical model.

Figure 2

Path coefficients of the modified model.

Table 1

Test of Normality of Measurable Variables (N=2,181)

Table 2

Correlation among Length of Work Experience, Frequency of Mobilization, Traumatic Events, Depression, and Post-traumatic Stress (PTS) (N=2,181)

Table 3

Fitness Index for the Hypothetical Model and Modified Model (N=2,181)

Table 4

Effect Coefficient and SMC of Modified Model (N=2,181)

Notes

This article is an addition based on the first author's master's thesis from Inje University.

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