Gender-Specific Network Structures of Depression and PTSD Symptoms in Chinese Firefighters

Firefighters are frequently exposed to severe stressors, leading to high rates of comorbid depression and PTSD, yet research exploring gender differences in these conditions remains limited.

This study employed symptom network analysis to examine the comorbid network structure and gender-specific bridge symptoms of depression and PTSD among Chinese firefighters.

Data from 6240 firefighters (5357 males, 883 females, M age = 29.33, SD age = 5.57) were analyzed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C). Network analysis was adopted to explore the interconnections between depression and PTSD symptoms, and network comparison test was conducted to examine gender differences.

The results indicated that female firefighters had significantly higher PTSD and depression scores compared to male firefighters. Across all firefighters, PHQ4 (feeling tired), PHQ9 (suicide), and PCL-13 (sleep difficulties) acted as bridge symptoms connecting depression and PTSD; however, bridge nodes differed markedly by gender. PHQ4 (feeling tired) and PHQ7 (trouble concentrating) served as female-specific bridge symptoms tied to internalized affective and cognitive struggles, whereas male-specific bridge symptoms were PHQ8 (impaired motor skills) and PHQ9 (suicide), corresponding to externalized dysfunction and acute crisis symptoms.

This study emphasizes the importance of gender-specific interventions.