Firefighter Stressors: A Systematic Review on Individual, Occupational, and Environmental Stressors

Abstract

This systematic review identified stressors faced by firefighters from the existing literature and categorized them into individual, occupational, and environmental stressors. Synthesis of the articles revealed 87 different stressors, which were qualitatively coded into 6 individual stressors, 12 occupational stressors, and 10 environmental stressors. The findings highlight that firefighters endure stress from multiple sources, affecting both their physical and mental health. The categorization of stressors offers an integrated approach for stress assessment and allows for developing stress mitigation strategies and training programs. This study provides the scope for future research aimed at reducing stress-induced risks in firefighting and other emergency response professions.