title: Post-traumatic stress disorder and job stress among firefighters of urban Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common condition among Japanese firefighters. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship of PTSD scores to job stress, social support, and depressive stress among Japanese firefighters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1,667 Japanese firefighters working for the local government completed a questionnaire that was used to gather information pertaining to age, gender, job type, job class, marital status, and smoking and drinking habits. Questionnaires from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Japanese version of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Generic Job Stress Questionnaire, and the IES-R were also used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for age and gender, subjects in the PTSD-positive group had significantly higher scores for inter-group conflict, role ambiguity, and CES-D, as well as significantly lower scores for social support from their supervisors compared to those in the PTSD-negative group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High inter-group conflict and role ambiguity, as well as low social support from supervisors and the presence of depressive symptoms, may influence the development of PTSD among Japanese firefighters.
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Medicine and Epidemiology, Department of Health Science, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan. y-saijo@asahikawa-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saijo
authors.forename: Takeji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012380:Role; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires