The purpose of this study is to clarify the structural relationship between the professional identity, the peer support, the active stress coping methods, and the quality of life of firefighters, based upon "the stress-coping adaptation model" by Laza...
The purpose of this study is to clarify the structural relationship between the professional identity, the peer support, the active stress coping methods, and the quality of life of firefighters, based upon "the stress-coping adaptation model" by Lazarus and Folkman. By using the SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 program, this study analyzed the statistical data collected from 447 firefighters working in Incheon. The results of the analysis are summarized as follows.
First, the correlation between the professional identity, the peer support, the active stress coping methods, and the quality of life of firefighters is clear. It indicates there are definitely the positive correlations between the professional identity and the peer support of firefighters, between the professional identity and the active stress coping methods of firefighters, between the peer support and the active stress coping methods of firefighters, between the professional identity and the quality of life of firefighters, and between the peer support and the quality of life of firefighters.
Second, the structural model mediated the active stress coping methods is appropriate in the relationships between the professional identity and the quality of life, and between the peer support and the quality of life of firefighters.
Third, the mediation effects of the active stress coping methods are respectively meaningful in the relationships between the professional identity and the quality of life, and between the peer support and the quality of life of firefighters.
These results expose that both the professional identity and the peer support of firefighters affect the quality of their life through mediating the active stress coping methods. Namely, both the professional identity and the peer support of firefightes have not only a direct effect on the quality of their life, but also an indirect effect on the quality of their life by mediating the active stress coping methods.
There have been some limitations to the previous researches on the quality of life of firefighters in terms of focusing exclusively on the issues of job stress or posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD). This study, however, is well worth dealing with the quality of life of firefighters in relation with their professional identity and peer support, and examining the mediation effect of the active stress coping methods of firefighters. The results of this study are expected to be helpful in building base data on the supports of policy, education, and counseling in order to improve the quality of life of firefighters.