Does Emotional Labor Increase the Risk of Suicidal Ideation among Firefighters?

Association between high emotional demand at work, burnout symptoms, and sleep disturbance among Korean workers: a cross-sectional mediation analysis

We explored the mediating role of burnout on the association between EDW and sleep disturbances. Our study included 18,744 Korean workers. Respondents were grouped into four levels (none, low, moderate, and high) based on their exposure to two EDW factors: handling angry clients (HAC) and hiding emotion (HE). Mediation models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) at a 95% confidence interval (CI). Compared to those not exposed, low, moderate, and high HAC increased odds of sleep disturbance by 1.52 (95% CI 1.30-1.78), 3.20 (95% CI 2.57-3.98), and 3.28 (95% CI 2.77-3.88) times, respectively. The indirect effect via burnout accounted for 29.9%, 24.1%, and 23.6% of the total effect, respectively, with estimates of 1.13 (95% CI 1.11-1.16), 1.32 (95% CI 1.26-1.39), and 1.32 (95% CI 1.27-1.37). Low, moderate, and high HE increased the odds of sleep disturbance by 1.45 (95% CI 0.93-2.28), 2.38 (95% CI 1.57-3.61), and 3.14 (95% CI 2.08-4.71) times, respectively. The indirect effect via burnout accounted for 10.5%, 29.7%, and 33.1% of the total effect, with estimates of 1.04 (95% CI 0.98-1.10), 1.29 (95% CI 1.22-1.37), and 1.46 (95% CI 1.38-1.55), respectively. Effective policies are required to protect the psychological wellbeing of workers who frequently engage in interpersonal tasks.

Trauma Exposure and Suicidal Ideation among Korean Male Firefighters: Examining the Moderating Roles of Organizational Climate

Background

This study investigated the relationship between trauma exposure and suicidal ideation. Moreover, this study examines the moderating roles of organizational climate on the association between trauma exposure and suicidal ideation in Korean male firefighters.

Methods

A total of 15,104 male firefighters who completed a questionnaire were analyzed. The data were obtained using an online self-administered questionnaire from the Firefighter Research on Enhancement of Safety and Health Study. Poisson regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of trauma exposure on suicidal ideation and the moderating effect of organizational climate.

Results

The results showed that 389 firefighters (2.6%) responded that they had experienced suicidal ideation. In the final model, trauma exposure was positively related to suicidal ideation (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.076; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.051-1.103), and organizational climate was negatively associated with suicidal ideation (aRR, 0.772; 95% CI: 0.739-0.806). Additionally, the interaction term (trauma exposure × organizational climate) was related to suicidal ideation (aRR, 1.016; 95% CI: 1.009-1.023).

Conclusions

This study suggests that trauma exposure might play a significant role in developing suicidal ideation and that positive organizational climate moderates the negative effects of trauma exposure on suicidal ideation among firefighters. It is necessary to perform a follow-up study of various intervention strategies to maintain a healthy organizational climate or work environment. Such interventions should promote lasting trust within teams, provide social support and belonging, and nurture job value.

Effects of Emergency Duties on Cardiovascular Diseases in Firefighters: A 13-Year Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine the effects of firefighters' emergency duties on the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

METHODS

We used a 13-year follow-up in a nationwide retrospective cohort study. A total of 363,137 employees were recruited. The sex-and age-specific incidence of CVD (hypertension, angina pectoris, and acutemyocardial infarction [AMI]) in firefighters and public officials was estimated.

RESULTS

The overall age-specific sex-based incidence of CVD, except for hypertension, was higher in firefighters than in public officials. The age-stratified hazard ratios for the three types of CVD in male firefighters were also higher. AMI was more common in younger firefighters, whereas angina pectoris and hypertension were common in older firefighters.

CONCLUSIONS

Firefighters' duties are more likely to increase the risk of CVD, and preventive strategies with proven benefits are required.

Moderating Effects of Organizational Climate on the Relationship between Emotional Labor and Burnout among Korean Firefighters

This study examined the association of emotional labor and organizational climate with burnout and elucidated the moderating effect of organizational climate on the relationship between emotional labor and burnout among 18,936 Korean firefighters (male: 17,790, 93.9%, female: 1146, 6.1%). To examine the effects of organizational climate on the relationships between five sub-scales of emotional labor and burnout, four groups were created using various combinations of emotional labor (“normal” vs. “risk”) and organizational climate (“good” vs. “bad”): (1) “normal” and “good” (Group I), (2) “normal” and “bad” (Group II), (3) “risk” and “good” (Group III), and (4) “risk” and “bad” (Group IV). A hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis indicated that firefighters’ burnout was significantly higher in the group with “bad” than “good” organizational climate and was significantly higher among people with “risk” than “normal” emotional labor. Combined effects of organizational climate with emotional labor on burnout were observed in all five sub-scales. Groups II, III, and IV were more likely to experience burnout than Group I (trend p < 0.001). Additionally, the moderating effects of organizational climate on the relationship between the five sub-scales of emotional labor and burnout were observed, except for factor 5. These results emphasize the importance of stress management to alleviate burnout caused by emotional labor at the organizational level and coping strategies to reinforce the personal potentiality suitable to organizational norms at the individual level.