Firefighter Relationship Satisfaction: Associations with Mental Health Outcomes
Maya Zegel1, Samuel J Leonard1, Shelby J McGrew1
1Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX.
Firefighter mental health is impacted by relationships. Those satisfied with their romantic partners reported fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Firefighters experience higher rates of mental health issues like PTSD, depression, and anxiety compared to the general population.
- Romantic relationship satisfaction is a potential protective factor for mental well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between romantic relationship satisfaction and mental health symptoms in firefighters.
- To compare mental health outcomes between firefighters satisfied and dissatisfied with their romantic relationships.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 200 firefighters (currently married or cohabiting) completed online self-report surveys.
- The Couples Satisfaction Index-4 (CSI-4) was used to assess relationship satisfaction, with a cut-off score of 13.5 defining groups.
- Measures included self-report assessments of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and alcohol consumption.
Main Results:
- Firefighters dissatisfied with their romantic relationships reported significantly higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and alcohol consumption.
- Conversely, firefighters satisfied with their relationships reported lower symptom severity across all measured mental health outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Romantic relationship satisfaction appears to be a significant factor in mitigating mental health symptoms among firefighters.
- Interventions aimed at improving relationship quality may be beneficial for firefighter mental health and well-being.
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