The Research Desk
Existential beliefs predict resilience in Dutch firefighters over time, while sleep quality and social support do not.
Predictors of psychological resilience among high-risk professionals: a two-year follow-up study in Dutch firefighters.
- Resilience
- Meaning
Lenaert, B., Barry, T., Ten Hertog, I., Lommen, M.
In plain language
This study explores the psychological resilience of Dutch firefighters, focusing on the role of existential beliefs, sleep quality, and social support over a two-year period. Resilience, the ability to positively adapt in the face of adversity, is crucial for high-risk professionals like firefighters. The researchers found that existential beliefs, specifically a sense of coherence and meaning in life, were significant predictors of resilience over time.
The study involved 528 firefighters and tracked their resilience using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. While initial resilience was a strong predictor, sense of coherence was particularly influential after one year, and meaning in life became significant after two years. Surprisingly, sleep quality and social support did not emerge as predictors of resilience in this context.
Key findings
- Sense of coherence at baseline predicted resilience after 12 months.
- Meaning in life significantly predicted resilience after 24 months.
- Sleep quality did not predict resilience at any time point.
- Social support from colleagues did not predict resilience.
- Age, sex, and experienced stressful events did not predict resilience.
Why it matters for flourishing
Understanding which factors contribute to resilience can help improve mental health and wellbeing, especially for those in high-stress professions like firefighting. This research highlights the importance of existential beliefs in fostering resilience.
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Individuals and organizations can focus on fostering a sense of coherence and meaning in life to enhance resilience. This could involve personal reflection or organizational support programs aimed at helping individuals find purpose and manage life's challenges more effectively.