Objectives: Emergency service workers such as firemen are exposed to severe stress, which may result in deteriorated functioning and development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of the presented study was to assess the stress coping styles of firemen exposed to severe stress, the prevalence of PTSD symptoms, and the correlation between them.
Methods: The study was carried out in a group of 147 Polish firemen. Two questionnaires were used: the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and the PTSD Interview (PTSD-I) in the Polish language version (K-PTSD).
Results: The study was carried out in a group of 147 Polish firemen. Two questionnaires were used: the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and the PTSD Interview (PTSD-I) in the Polish language version (K-PTSD).
Conclusions: Nearly one third of the investigated group of firemen suffered from symptoms of PTSD, with the stress coping strategy most often observed in that subgroup being style focused on avoidance. Age proved to be a factor associated with the readiness to undertake behavioral measures to cope with stress tension; such behavior tends to be undertaken by older firemen.
Keywords: PTSD; firemen; stress.