Abstract

AFONSO, Nadine; GALVAO, Ana; PINHEIRO, Marco  and  GOMES, Maria José. Happiness, anxiety, depression and stress among Portuguese firefighters. Revista Portuguesa de Enfermagem de Saúde Mental [online]. 2020, n.spe7, pp.37-42. ISSN 1647-2160.  https://doi.org/10.19131/rpesm.0245.

BACKGROUND: It is known that, due to the nature of their work, firefighters are exposed to adverse situations, as well as potentially traumatic events, and are considered a risk group. AIM: The objective was to study the level of anxiety, depression and stress, as well as happiness; the relationship between anxiety, depression and stress in happiness; and the relationship between self-perception of happiness and the level of happiness assessed. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational and inferential study was carried out on a sample of 312 firefighters from 18 Trás-os-Montes corporations. As data collection instrument, a questionnaire with socio-professional questions, the Scale about Happiness (ESAF) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were used. RESULTS: From the analysis of results, there were: low levels of anxiety, depression and stress and, high levels of happiness; positive correlations between the dimensions anxiety, depression and stress and a negative correlation between these three dimensions and the level of happiness. The relationship between the self-perception of happiness and the level of happiness measured shows that the individuals who responded that they felt happy, present a level of happiness superior to those who considered themselves not to feel happy. CONCLUSIONS: Firefighters in the sample have normal levels of anxiety, depression and stress, according to the authors' EADS rating and high levels of happiness.

Keywords : Firefighters; Psychological stress; Happiness.

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