Recruit firefighters: a longitudinal investigation of mental health and work

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the contribution of work to self-reported mental health symptoms in fire service members.

Design/methodology/approach

In 2004, the first wave of this data collection was completed with all members of a fire department in a small northern center in British Columbia. The members completed a series of questionnaires measuring mental health, personality and satisfaction. Since 2004, all recruit members entering the department have also completed the same set of questionnaires shortly after hiring. Subsequently, in 2016–2017, the full sample, including recruit members, were invited to complete the Wave 2 data collection cycle, which included a set of questionnaires very similar to that collected in Wave 1.

Findings

The recruit sample reported significantly fewer mental health symptoms, as compared to career firefighters, at Time 1 (prior to workplace exposure). However, at Time 2 (after workplace exposure), no difference between the groups was evident.

Research limitations/implications

It is possible that recruit firefighters reported more positive mental health because of social desirability bias upon beginning a new job.

Practical implications

These results suggest that service as a firefighter could potentially have an impact on mental health and efforts should be made to mitigate this impact.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, the current research is the first study that has followed recruit firefighters longitudinally in an effort to prospectively evaluate the impact of workplace exposure on mental health.

Citation

Wagner, S. and Pasca, R. (2020), "Recruit firefighters: a longitudinal investigation of mental health and work", International Journal of Emergency Services, Vol. 9 No. 2, pp. 143-152. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJES-01-2018-0005