Background of Disaster Management: A Phenomenological Study on Job Stress and Coping Strategies of ARFF Personnel

Abstract

The main policy of the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) unit, which is an important link in the safety and security of the aviation sector, is to "hope for the best" and "be ready for the worst". Within the framework of this policy, the ARFF service is ready for duty 24/7 in emergency and disaster situations as well as in aviation. It is inevitable that ARFF service employees are exposed to occupational stress during their activities in emergencies and disasters, which is a job where a small mistake can result in disaster. For this reason, the aim of the study is to determine the job stress in the ARFF unit personnel who took part in the earthquake disaster in Turkey in 2023 and their experiences of struggling with job stress. For this purpose, phenomenology design was selected from qualitative research methods. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 13 ARFF personnel. The interview data was edited by transcribing, meaningful data was determined and themes were created. When the findings of the study are examined, it is seen that the majority of the employees stated working conditions as the main source of stress, while management practices, type/nature of work, danger or risk and life events were found to be other sources of stress. Individual approaches to job stress were mostly psychological interventions, while organizational interventions were found to be significantly influenced by work structure and management practices.

Keywords

• Job Stress
• Earthquake
• Aviation Sector
• ARFF Personnel

Afetle Mücadelenin Arka Planı: ARFF Personelinin İş Stresi ve Stresle Başa Çıkma Stratejileri Üzerinde Fenomenolojik Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Havacılık sektörünün güvenliğinin ve uçuş emniyetinin önemli bir halkası olan hava araçlarından kurtarma ve yangınla mücadele (ARFF) biriminin esas politikası ‘‘en iyisini ummak’’ ve ‘‘en kötüsüne hazır olmak’’tır. Bu politika çerçevesinde ARFF hizmeti havacılık alanında olduğu kadar acil durum ve afet durumlarında da 7/24 göreve hazırdır. Küçük bir hatanın felaketle neticelenebileceği bir iş olan ARFF hizmetinde çalışanların acil durum ve afetlerdeki faaliyetlerinde mesleki strese maruz kalması ise kaçınılmazdır. Bu nedenle çalışmanın amacı 2023 yılında Türkiye’de yaşanan deprem felaketinde görev alan ARFF birimi personelinde iş stresini ve yaşanılan iş stresine ilişkin mücadele deneyimlerini belirlemektir. Bu amaç doğrultusunda nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden olgubilim (fenomenoloji) deseni seçilmiştir. Veriler 13 ARFF personeli ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Görüşme verileri yazıya geçirilerek düzenlenmiş, anlamlı veriler saptanarak temalar oluşturulmuştur. Çalışmanın bulgularına bakıldığında, Çalışanların çoğunluğu ana stres kaynağı olarak çalışma koşullarını vurgulamıştır. Yönetim uygulamaları, işin türü/doğası tehlike veya risk ve yaşam olayları diğer stres kaynakları olarak bulgulanmıştır. İş stresine bireysel yaklaşımların ise çoğunlukla psikolojik müdahaleler olduğu görülürken, kurumsal müdahalelerde çalışma yapısı ve yönetim uygulamalarının etkisinin önemli derecede olduğu görülmüştür.

Keywords

• İş Stresi
• Deprem
• Havacılık Sektörü
• ARFF Personeli

References

1. Akcanbas, M., & Zor, V. (2021). İstanbul’daki itfaiyecilerde travma sonrası stres belirtilerinin incelenmesi. Ohs Academy, 4(3), 37-47.
2. Akgemci, T. (2001). Örgütlerde stres ve yönetimi. Atatürk Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi, 15(1-2), 301-309.
3. Baltacı, R., & İşeri, A. (2024). Türk itfaiyecilerde bir mesleki psikolojik hastalık olarak travma sonrası stres. Ergonomi, 7(2), 186-196.
4. Benedek, D., Fullerton, C., & Ursano, R. (2007). First responders: Mental health consequences of natural and human-made disasters for public health and public safety workers. Annual Review of Public Health, 28(1), 55-68.
5. Berger, W., Coutinho, E. S. F., Figueira, I., & vd. (2012). Rescuers at risk: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis of the worldwide current prevalence and correlates of PTSD in rescue workers. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 47(10), 1001–1011.
6. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
7. Brown, J., Mulhern, G., & Joseph, S. (2002). Incident-related stressors, locus of control, coping, and psychological distress among firefighters in Northern Ireland. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 15(2), 161-168.
8. Burleson, B.R., & Goldsmith, D.J. (1998). How the comforting process works: Alleviating emotional distress through conversationally induced reappraisals. In P. A. Andersen & L. K. Guerrero (Eds.), Handbook of communication and emotion: Research, theory, applications, and contexts (ss. 245-280). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

9. Cénat, J.M., McIntee, S.E., & Blais-Rochette, C. (2020). Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and other mental health problems following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal Of Affective Disorders, 273, 55-85.
10. Chamberlin, M.J., & Green, H.J. (2010). Stress and coping strategies among firefighters and recruits. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 15(6), 548-560.
11. Costa, G. (1996). The impact of shift and night work on health. Applied Ergonomics, 27(1), 9-16.
12. Curbow, B., Spratt, K., Ungaretti, A., McDonnell, K., & Breckler, S. (2000). Development of the child care worker job stress inventory. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 15(4), 515-536.
13. Dai, W., Chen, L., Lai, Z., Li, Y., Wang, J., & Liu, A. (2016). The incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder among survivors after earthquakes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC psychiatry, 16, 1-11.
14. Declercq, F., Meganck, R., Deheegher, J., & Van Hoorde, H. (2011). Frequency of and subjective response to critical incidents in the prediction of PTSD in emergency personnel. Journal Of Traumatic Stress, 24(1), 133-136.
15. Deprem Dairesi Başkanlığı. (2023, Mayıs 9). Kahramanmaraş’ta Meydana Gelen Depremler Hakkında. Erişim adresi:https://www.afad.gov.tr/ kahramanmarasta-meydana-gelen-depremler-hk-34
16. DHMİ. (2003). Kanun ve yönetmelikler. Devlet Hava Meydanları Işletmesi Genel Müdürlüğü Uçak Kaza Kırım Kurtarma Ve Yangınla Mücadele Yönergesi. Erişim adresi: https://www.dhmi.gov.tr/Sayfalar /KanunveYonetmelikler.aspx
17. Duran, F., Woodhams, J., & Bishopp, D. (2018). An interview study of the experiences of firefighters in regard to psychological contract and stressors. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 30, 203-226.
18. Eryılmaz, İ., Dirik, D., & Öney, T. (2024). A phenomenological study on psychological resilience of aircraft rescue and firefighting professionals. Current Psychology, 43, 1-23.
19. Faturrahman, & Eny Sri Haryati. (2023). Pengaruh Stres Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan Pertolongan Kecelakaan Penerbangan Dan Pemadam Kebakaran (Pkp-Pk) Di Bandar Udara Internasional Adisutjipto Yogyakarta. Jurnal Mahasiswa: Jurnal Ilmiah Penalaran Dan Penelitian Mahasiswa, 5(2), 257-269.
20. Folkman, S., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2004). Coping: Pitfalls and promise. Annual Review of Psychology, 55(1), 745-774.
21. Folwell, A., & Kauer, T. (2018). You see a baby die and you’re not fine: A case study of stress and coping strategies in volunteer emergency medical technicians. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 46(6), 723-743.
22. French, J.R., Caplan, R.D., & Van Harrison, R. (1982). The mechanisms of job stress and strain. Chichester [Sussex], New York: Wiley.
23. Gale, N., Heath, G., Cameron, E., Rashid, S., & Redwood, S. (2013). Using the framework method for the analysis of qualitative data in multi-disciplinary health research. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 13(1), 1-8.
24. Gärtner, A., Behnke, A., Conrad, D., Kolassa, I.-T., & Rojas, R. (2019). Emotion regulation in rescue workers: Differential relationship with perceived work-related stress and stress-related symptoms. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 2744.
25. Gottlieb, B. H., & Bergen, A. E. (2010). Social support concepts and measures. Journal Of Psychosomatic Research, 69(5), 511-520.
26. Hans, A., Mubeen, S., Khan, S., & Saadi, A. (2014). A study on work stress and job satisfaction among headmasters: A case study of bilingual schools in sultanate of Oman - Muscat. Journal of Sociological Research, 5, 40-46.
27. Islam, M., Alam, K., Keramat, S., Murshid, M., Haque, R., Kabir, E., Khanam, R., & Khan, M. (2022). Working conditions and occupational stress among nurses in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional pilot study. Journal of Public Health, 30(9), 2211-2219.
28. Kales, S.N., Soteriades, E.S., Christoudias, S.G., & Christiani, D.C. (2003). Firefighters and on-duty deaths from coronary heart disease: A case control study. Environmental Health, 2, 1-13.
29. Kalimo, R., Lehtonen, A., Daleva, M., & Kuorinka, I. (1980). Psychological and biochemical strain in firemen's work. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 6(3), 179-187.
30. Kaplan, M., & Öney, T. (2019). İşe gömülmüşlüğün iş stresi üzerine etkisi: İtfaiye çalışanları üzerine bir araştırma. 6. Uluslararası Multidisipliner Çalışmaları Kongresi, Gaziantep, Türkiye.
31. Lazarus, R., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer.
32. Lohala, S., & Sharma, M. (2022). Stress and coping strategies among police personnel at selected police stations in Kathmandu valley. Journal of Chitwan Medical College, 12(3), 10-15.
33. Lusa, S., Punakallio, A., Luukkonen, R., & Louhevaara, V. (2006). Factors associated with changes in perceived strain at work among fire-fighters: A 3-year follow-up study. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 79(5), 419-426.
34. Ma, C., Andrew, M., Fekedulegn, D., Gu, J., Hartley, T.A., Charles, L., Violanti, J., & Burchfiel, C. (2015). Shift work and occupational stress in police officers. Safety and Health at Work, 6(1), 25-29.
35. Marmar, C.R., Weiss, D.S., Metzler, T.J., Ronfeldt, H.M., & Foreman, C. (1996). Stress responses of emergency services personnel to the Loma Prieta earthquake Interstate 880 freeway collapse and control traumatic incidents. Journal Of Traumatic Stress, 9(1), 63-85.
36. Mason, J. (2002). Qualitative research (2nd ed.). Wiltshire: Sage Publications.
37. McCreary, D.R., Fong, I., & Groll, D.L. (2017). Measuring policing stress meaningfully: Establishing norms and cut-off values for the operational and organizational police stress questionnaires. Police Practice and Research, 18(6), 612-623.
38. Morman, M., Schrodt, P., & Adamson, A. (2020). Firefighters’ job stress and the (un)intended consequences of relational quality with spouses and firefighter friends. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37(4), 1092-1113.
39. Nagamine, M., Giltay, E., Shigemura, J., Van Der Wee, N., Yamamoto, T., Takahashi, Y., Saito, T., Tanichi, M., Koga, M., Toda, H., Shimizu, K., Yoshino, A., & Vermetten, E. (2020). Assessment of factors associated with long-term posttraumatic stress symptoms among 56 388 first responders after the 2011 great East Japan earthquake. JAMA Network Open, 3(9), 1-13.
40. Newman, J., & Beehr, T. (1979). Personal and organizational strategies for handling job stress: A review of research and opinion. Personnel Psychology, 32(1), 1-43.
41. O’Rourke, N., & Hyland, J. (2021). Coping strategies employed by Irish firefighters, association with stress and anxiety, and the use of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) support. DBS Business Review, 4, 89-109.
42. Ocal, A. (2019). Natural disasters in Turkey: Social and economic perspective. International Journal of Disaster Risk Management, 1(1), 51-61.
43. Pajardi, D., D'Agostino, A., Gagliardini, G., Pepi, R., & Colli, A. (2023). Mental health risks for cultural heritage professionals within the framework of disaster risk reduction: An exploratory study on the emotional impact of ruins after the 2016 earthquake in central Italy. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 92, 103705.
44. Park, C.L., & Folkman, S. (1997). Meaning in the context of stress and coping. Review of General Psychology, 1(2), 115-144.
45. Prati, G., Pietrantoni, L., & Cicognani, E. (2010). Self-efficacy moderates the relationship between stress appraisal and quality of life among rescue workers. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 23(4), 463-470.
46. Ragesh, G., Tharayil, H.M., Raj, M.T., Philip, M., & Hamza, A. (2017). Occupational stress among police Personnel in India. Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences, 8(2), 148-152.
47. Reed, D.J. (2016). Coping with occupational stress: The role of optimism and coping flexibility. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 2016(9), 71-79.
48. Sakirun, M., & Dousin, O. (2022). Conceptualizing the relationship between stress, job satisfaction and job performance using the job demand control support theory: The case of firefighters in Malaysia. International Journal of Human Resource Studies, 12(1), 1-14.
49. Sari, P., Astuti, E., & Nurtjahjono, G. (2015). Pengaruh konflik dan stres kerja terhadap motivasi dan kinerja karyawan (Studi Pada Karyawan PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Cabang Tuban). Jurnal Administrasi Bisnis, 27(2), 1-10.
50. Sato, H., Techasrivichien, T., Omori, A., Ono-Kihara, M., & Kihara, M. (2019). Psychosocial consequences among nurses in the affected area of the great East Japan earthquake of 2011 and the Fukushima complex disaster: A qualitative study. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 13(3), 519-526.
51. Schaefer Solle, N., Caban-Martinez, A., Levy, R., Young, B., Lee, D., Harrison, T., & Kobetz, E. (2018). Perceptions of health and cancer risk among newly recruited firefighters in South Florida. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 61(1), 77-84.
52. Schonfeld, I., & Mazzola, J. (2013). Strengths and limitations of qualitative approaches to research in occupational health psychology. İçinde R. R. Sinclair, M. Wang, & L. E. Tetrick (Eds.), Research methods in occupational health psychology (ss. 268–289). Routledge.
53. Selye, H. (1976). The stress concept. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 115(8), 718.
54. Sianturi, K., Handayani, R., Handayani, P., & Muda, C. (2021). Risk factors of work stress on firefighters. Journal of Vocational Health Studies, 5(2), 112-118.
55. Smith, T., DeJoy, D., Dyal, M.-A., & Huang, G. (2017). Impact of work pressure, work stress and work–family conflict on firefighter burnout. Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 74(4), 215-222.
56. Stranks, J. (2005). Stress at work: management and prevention. Burlington: Heinemann Publishers.
57. Valenti, M., Vinciguerra, M., Masedu, F., Tiberti, S., & Sconci, V. (2012). A before and after study on personality assessment in adolescents exposed to the 2009 earthquake in L‘Aquila, Italy: Influence of sports practice. BMJ Open, 2(3), 1-8.
58. Van der Velden, P.G., van Loon, P., Benight, C.C., & Eckhardt, T. (2012). Mental health problems among search and rescue workers deployed in the Haïti earthquake 2010: A pre–post comparison. Psychiatry Research, 198(1), 100-105.
59. Wang, X., Yip, P., & Chan, C. (2016). Suicide prevention for local public and volunteer relief workers in disaster-affected areas. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 22(3), 39-46.
60. Yoo, S., Komura, K., Matsui, Y., & Maruyama, S. (2017). The stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth of dispatched firefighters following the great East Japan earthquake. The Japanese Journal of Psychology, 87(6), 644-650.
61. Young, P.M., Partington, S., Wetherell, M.A., St Clair Gibson, A., & Partington, E. (2014). Stressors and coping strategies of UK firefighters during on‐duty incidents. Stress and Health, 30(5), 366-376.