What is it about?
This study investigated how trauma affects Turkish firefighters' mental health and workplace safety. We examined 122 firefighters from five major cities to understand the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), post-traumatic growth (PTG), and psychological resilience. Our findings reveal that while firefighters maintain strong technical safety practices, psychological safety support remains significantly underdeveloped. Remarkably, Turkish firefighters show culturally distinct patterns of trauma adaptation, emphasizing personal strength and spiritual growth rather than interpersonal connections typically observed in Western studies.
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Why is it important?
Firefighters face repeated trauma exposure that can compromise both their mental health and operational safety. This research demonstrates that psychological factors account for 28% of variance in safety performance—highlighting that technical training alone is insufficient. The study identifies a critical gap between robust equipment protocols and inadequate psychological support systems, offering evidence-based direction for developing integrated safety interventions in emergency services.
Perspectives
These findings support developing culturally responsive safety programs that address both technical competencies and psychological resilience simultaneously. Future research should explore longitudinal dynamics and test organizational interventions targeting the identified technical-psychological safety gap.
Assistant Professor Ahmet Erhan BAKIRCI
İstanbul Üniversitesi Cerrahpaşa
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Post-Traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic growth in firefighters: examining the moderating effects of resilience on occupational safety behaviors, BMC Public Health, May 2025, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-22908-9.
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