This study was performed to assess the level of job and psychosocial stresses in Korean firefighters, and to evaluate the determinants of psychosocial stress.

The study subjects comprised 1,712 male firefighters working in Seoul, Busan, and Kyungnam in 2006. We collected information about demographic and job-related characteristics, healthrelated behaviors, Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS), and psychosocial Well-being Index (PWI) through self-administered questionnaires. Statistical analyses were done by using the chi-square-test and logistic regression model.

The multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that the proportion of high-risk psychosocial stress is significantly higher in the groups with high job stress level in ‘lack of rewards’ (OR=2.90, 95% CI=2.18–3.85), ‘occupational climate’ (OR=1.92, 95% CI=1.47–2.51), ‘job demand’ (OR=1.72, 95% CI=1.32–2.23), ‘job insecurity’ (OR=1.53, 95% CI=1.17–2.01), ‘interpersonal conflict’ (OR=1.53, 95% CI=1.16–2.01), ‘physical environment’ (OR=1.45, 95% CI=1.11–1.89), and ‘organizational injustice’ (OR=1.38, 95% CI=1.04–1.85).

Psychosocial stress might be adversely influenced by job stressors for the most part. Firefighters need job stress management to minimize their psychological problems.