ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess the level of job and psychosocial stresses in Korean firefighters, and to evaluate the determinants of psychosocial stress. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial stress might be adversely influenced by job stressors for the most part. Firefighters need job stress management to minimize their psychological problems.