By Nature, We're Doers and Problem Solvers: Evolving Job Demands and Resources in Response to COVID-19 Among US-Based
Katherine C Castro1, Alexandra B Fisher, Ashley M Geczik
1From the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH), University of Utah and Weber State University, Salt Lake City, Utah (K.C.C., J.A.A.); Department of Family and Preventative Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (K.C.C., J.A.A.); Center for Firefighter Injury Research and Safety Trends, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (A.B.F., A.M.G., A.L.D., J.A.T.); School of Business and Economics, Moravian University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (S.L.B.); LeBow College of Business, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (C.J.R.); and Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas (J.L.).
Objective:
The US fire service experienced increased demands due to COVID-19. This qualitative study explored the pandemic's impact on work-life balance and safety.
Methods:
Five interviews and 10 focus groups were conducted with 15 fire departments in the COVID-19 RAPID Mental Health Assessment. Coding and multilevel content analysis were conducted in NVivo.
Results:
Four department support themes were identified: emotional/social (33.1%), policy (28.4%), instrumental (22.9%), and informational (15.5%). Four work-life balance themes were identified: life (51.2%), children (18.1%), physiological (16.5%), and work (14.2%). We observed more departmental resources to help mitigate job demands within the work environment compared with those for work-life demands.
Conclusions:
Job resources are needed to mitigate demands and improve safety culture and mental well-being of the fire service under normal conditions, and for the next pandemic, natural disaster, or long-term emergency.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Current Trends in Nursing I
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II
02:45Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
01:29Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
01:13Stress Concentrations
The stress...