A method for assessing the stress resistance in employees of the Federal Fire Service of the EMERCOM of Russia for managerial decision-making

Abstract

Relevance. Firefighters often work in extreme conditions while carrying out professional activities, they quickly make decisions that affect the lives of the victims and the safety of significant material resources. In addition to professional skills, knowledge and abilities, effective decision-making is largely determined by their resistance to stress. Intention is to develop an algorithm for assessing the stress resistance of employees of the Federal Fire Service of the EMERCOM of Russia, who have special ranks, for managerial decision-making. Methodology. 261 employees of the Federal Fire Service of the EMERCOM of Russia directly involved in firefighting were examined. Their average age was (31.0 ± 3.3) years, professional experience - (6.5 ± 3.2) years. There were 186 firefighters and drivers of fire trucks (1st group), 52 chiefs of fire guards (2nd group), 23 chiefs (deputies) of fire and rescue units (3rd group). The psychological status of firefighters was studied using the methods “Forecast-2”, a multi-level personal questionnaire “Adaptiveness” and the test “Meaningful life orientations” by D.A. Leontiev. With the help of dispersion analysis, a comparative assessment of indicators in the general array was carried out and three groups of firefighters were identified. A discriminatory model for assigning firefighters to professional groups has been developed. Results and Discussion. A high level of neuropsychic stability according to the “Forecast-2” method was revealed in 33.7 % of the firefighters of the general array, the average level - in 66.3 %. No firefighters with low level of nervous mental stability were identified. The most pronounced indicators of socio-psychological adaptation according to the methods used were found among the heads of fire and rescue units and their deputies and the heads of fire guards. A discriminant model was developed that contained 6 statistically significant predictors: X1 - professional experience; X2 - nervous mental stability according to the “Forecast” method; X3 - behavioral regulation according to the questionnaire “Adaptiveness”; X4 - locus of control - life according to the test “Meaningful life orientations”; X5 - communicative qualities according to the questionnaire “Adaptiveness”; Х6 - goals in life according to the test “Meaningful life orientations”. The model as a whole turned out to be statistically significant (p < 0.001) and qualified at 94.3 %. With the help of three linear discriminant functions, firefighters can be classified into the selected groups. Conclusion. The revealed differences in indicators of neuropsychic stability and life orientations among firefighters will allow for more targeted psychological support of activities and objectively make administrative decisions.