Relationship quality and its association with job satisfaction, quality of life, and mental health of first-responders.

Abstract

First-responder firefighters deal with a number of stressors as a routine part of their careers. The current study examined the association between relationship quality and the effects of stress experienced by first responder firefighters. Through the survey responses of 75 current firefighters, this study sought to extend previous research on firefighter emotional health by assessing the relationship between marital and friendship quality and firefighters’ reports of job satisfaction, quality of life, and mental health. Results indicate that both marital and friendship quality are significantly associated with a number of important issues related to the emotional health of first-responder firefighters.