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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Job Stress among Firefighters of Urban Japan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 March 2012

Yasuaki Saijo ,
Takeji Ueno  and
Yoshihiro Hashimoto
Yasuaki Saijo*
Affiliation:
Division of Community Medicine and Epidemiology, Department of Health Science, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
Takeji Ueno
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work, School of Social Welfare, Hokusei Gakuen University, Sapporo, Japan
Yoshihiro Hashimoto
Affiliation:
Sapporo Fire Bureau, Sapporo, Japan
*
Correspondence: Yasuaki Saijo, MD, PhD Division of Community Medicine and Epidemiology Department of Health Science Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka, E2-1-1-1, Asahikawa Hokkaido 078-8510, Japan E-mail: y-saijo@asahikawa-med.ac.jp
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Abstract

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common condition among Japanese firefighters. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship of PTSD scores to job stress, social support, and depressive stress among Japanese firefighters.

Methods: A total of 1,667 Japanese firefighters working for the local government completed a questionnaire that was used to gather information pertaining to age, gender, job type, job class, marital status, and smoking and drinking habits. Questionnaires from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Japanese version of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Generic Job Stress Questionnaire, and the IES-R were also used.

Results: After adjustment for age and gender, subjects in the PTSD-positive group had significantly higher scores for inter-group conflict, role ambiguity, and CES-D, as well as significantly lower scores for social support from their supervisors compared to those in the PTSD-negative group.

Conclusions: High inter-group conflict and role ambiguity, as well as low social support from supervisors and the presence of depressive symptoms, may influence the development of PTSD among Japanese firefighters.

Keywords

depressive symptomsfirefightersjob stresspost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)role ambiguitysocial support
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 1 , February 2012 , pp. 59 - 63
Copyright
Copyright Saijo © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2012

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