Developing and Evaluating an Online Post-Traumatic Growth Program for Firefighters

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Occupational Health
• Intervention Studies

Background:

• Firefighters face significant occupational stress and trauma.
• Post-traumatic growth (PTG) and social support are crucial for mental well-being in high-stress professions.
• Rumination, both intrusive and deliberate, plays a complex role in psychological adjustment following trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an online post-traumatic growth program for firefighters.
• To assess the program's impact on rumination (intrusive and deliberate), social support, and PTG.
• To inform the development of targeted psychological support for firefighters.

Main Methods:

• A nonequivalent control group pretest-post-test design was used.
• Participants included 33 firefighters from two Korean provinces (intervention group n=16).
• The intervention comprised an 8-session online program with a workbook and messenger group counseling, with post-tests at 0 and 4 weeks.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in post-traumatic growth were observed.
• Significant improvements in social support were reported.
• No statistically significant differences were found in intrusive or deliberate rumination.

Conclusions:

• Online psychological interventions can enhance post-traumatic growth and social support in firefighters.
• Current program designs may not effectively modify rumination patterns in this population.
• Future interventions should consider firefighters' specific occupational characteristics and needs, potentially incorporating strategies to induce rumination.