Mental Health And Job Burnout In Firefighters Of Mashhad , Iran: A Descriptive Pilot Study

Abstract

The firefighting profession, as one of the high-risk and high-stress occupations, requires significant physical and psychological preparedness. Firefighters encounter critical conditions such as fires, explosions, and rescue operations, which can negatively impact their mental and occupational health. This pilot study aimed to examine the mental health and occupational burnout of firefighters in the city of Mashhad to provide a foundation for conducting more extensive and periodic studies at the national level. This descriptive cross-sectional study included 130 Mashhad firefighters of both genders and various educational levels. Data were collected using the standard GHQ-12 and MBI questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS and Smart PLS software. The overall mental health score was moderate (at the risk threshold) (3.51), and occupational burnout was moderate to high (53.52). The majority of participants held a bachelor's degree (53.1%) and the fewest held a doctoral degree (2.3%). Additionally, 56.2% were operational officers, 23.1% were administrative staff, and 20.8% were operational drivers. ANOVA results indicated a significant difference in mental health based on educational level (F = 4.209, p = 0.003), with individuals possessing higher education levels exhibiting better conditions. A significant difference in occupational burnout was observed between administrative and operational groups. Regarding validity and reliability, Cronbach's alpha for occupational burnout (0.625) and mental health (0.361) did not indicate desirable reliability; however, the Composite Reliability (CR) index above 0.70 indicated acceptable reliability. The Average Variance Extracted (AVE) index below 0.5 and the Heterotrait-Monotrait (HTMT) ratio of 0.696 suggested the need to improve convergent validity and confirm discriminant validity. Firefighters' mental health was significantly related to educational level, with those having higher education levels showing better conditions. Occupational burnout also varied among job positions, with administrative staff experiencing better conditions compared to operational officers. There is a need to improve measurement tools and address educational and occupational factors to manage mental health and occupational burnout effectively.