Mapping the impact of acute occupational stress on cognitive performance in firefighting contexts: a scoping review

Firefighting combines intense physical exertion, heat, and psychological stress, creating high cognitive demands where errors have serious consequences. While physiological effects are well studied, cognitive impacts are less understood. This scoping review mapped research on how acute occupational stressors affect firefighters' cognitive performance. Using PRISMA-ScR, we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science with no date limits, including English-language records only. Studies were included if they examined firefighting-relevant acute stressors and reported an objective cognitive outcome. Thirty-two studies were reviewed and synthesised quantitatively and thematically. Negative cognitive effects were most common, followed by positive and neutral outcomes. Complex tasks and combined heat and physical exertion were most likely to show impairment. Evidence is limited by task heterogeneity, predominantly male samples, English-only screening, and inclusion of grey literature. Findings highlight the need for stress-integrated training, defined recovery protocols, and studies testing moderators such as age and fitness.