Abstract:


Background: Firefighters are frequently exposed to high-pressure environments and traumatic events, making them more susceptible to stress and depression. Despite this, limited research has explored the dynamic relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms in this high-risk profession. This study aims to investigate this relationship using cross-lagged panel network analysis among firefighters involved in flood rescue operations.
Methods: Data were collected from 522 firefighters in Shaanxi Province, China, during two waves in July and October 2024. Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). A cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) model was used to analyze the temporal relationship between stress and depression.
Results: Through comparing the two cross-sectional networks, we found that the central symptoms and bridge symptoms of perceived stress and depression symptoms changed over time. The findings of CLPN indicate that node D7 (Trouble concentrating) represents high level of Out-Expected Influence (OEI) symptom, while node S8 (Can't cope with things had to do) was identified as high level of In-Expected Influence (IEI) symptom.
Conclusion:
This study aims to explore the dynamic relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms among firefighters during flood rescue operations using cross-lagged panel network analysis. The study provides insights into potential intervention points that could help alleviate the psychological burden on firefighters.