The Mediating Effect of Perceived Appraisal Support on the Relationship between Neuroticism and Occupational Stress in Firefighters

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of perceived appraisal support between neuroticism and occupational stress in firefighters. @*Methods@#The subjects of this study were 156 firefighters who worked at three fire stations in G province in Korea. The collected data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis using Baron and Kenny’s method for mediation. @*Results@#There were significant relationships between neuroticism and perceived appraisal support (r=.30, p<.001), neuroticism and occupational stress (r=.42, p<.001), and perceived appraisal support and occupational stress (r=.36, p<.001). Perceived appraisal support showed partial mediating effects in the relationship between neuroticism and occupational stress. @*Conclusion@#The impact of neuroticism in firefighters was mediated by perceived appraisal support for occupational stress. This suggests that strategies for enhancing perceived appraisal support in fire fighters should be considered when developing neuroticism management interventions for decreasing their occupational stress.