Prevalence and predictors of PTSD, depression and posttraumatic growth among Chinese firefighters

The study aims to investigate the psychological state of firefighters and to provide suggestions for working with firefighters in order to improve their mental health for the long term.

A questionnaire packet on depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and posttraumatic growth (PTG) was given to firefighters studying in a firefighter school of Nanjing to complete. A total of 409 valid questionnaires were retrieved.

(1) The prevalence of depression, PTSD, and PTG were 27.94%, 4.89% and 59.41% respectively. (2) Firefighters whose major were Information Communication and Equipment Safety reported higher levels of depression and PTSD compared to firefighters in other majors [F (3, 386) = 5.43, p < 0.001; F (3, 386) = 4.57, p < 0.01]. (3) There was no significant difference in PTG scores regardless of the majors and the length of military service of firefighters [F (3, 386) = 0.52, p > 0.05; F (3, 386) = 0.29, p > 0.05].

Firefighters did have a certain level of mental stress in their lives, and the mental stress levels were significantly different among firefighters with different majors and length of military service.