Anger and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Firefighters After a Firefighting Operation with Two Team Member Fatalities

Due to the burdens of critical operations, firefighters are at occupational risk of developing mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) or anger. In this study, we assessed the impact of a firefighting operation with two fatalities and eleven injuries among colleagues on the mental health of those involved. Aims: The study hypothesizes that firefighters who were acquainted with the wounded or deceased show more PTSS and score higher on the STAXI-2 State Anger, Anger Expression-In/Out, and Anger Control-In/Out compared to those who were not. The second hypothesis assumes that the deployed group shows more PTSS and scores higher on the STAXI-2 State Anger, Anger Expression-In/Out, and Anger Control-In/Out compared to the grouping of non-deployed colleagues. Methods: A total of N = 138 firefighters were included, of which n = 32 were deployed and n = 106 were not (n = 26 acquainted with wounded or injured; n = 107 not acquainted with wounded or injured; n = 5 not specified). Both groups completed a standardized questionnaire voluntarily and after providing written informed consent ten months after the incident. The questionnaire consisted of the Posttraumatic Stress Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the State-Trait Anger Inventory (STAXI-2) questionnaire. Results: Firefighters who knew the injured or deceased colleagues had significantly higher PTSS [T(23.7) = −2.5; p = 0.019; d = 0.67; 95% CI = (−10.8, −1.0)], state anger [T(74.2) = 2.4; p = 0.021; d = 0.41; 95% CI = (0.2, 2.0)], and anger control scores [T(124) = −2.7; p = 0.008; d = 0.71; 95% CI = (−5.9, −0.9)]. In addition, the deployed group showed higher anger control [T(134) = 2.0; p = 0.046; d = 0.42; 95% CI = (0.0, 4.2)] and outward anger expression [T(73.5) = −2.2; p = 0.032; d = 0.40; 95% CI = (−2.3, −0.1)] scores compared to their non-deployed colleagues. Discussion: Future psychological pre- and post-deployment interventions should place more focus on the increased vulnerability of those acquainted with wounded or deceased colleagues.