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Authoritarianism, Inner/Other Directedness, and Sensation Seeking in Firefighter/Paramedics: Their Relationship with Burnout

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Ronald G. Palmer  and
Wanda M. Spaid
Ronald G. Palmer*
Affiliation:
Firefighter/Paramedic, Salt Lake County Fire Department, Salt Lake City, Utah
Wanda M. Spaid
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
*
5864 W. 9600 N., Highland, UT 84003USA
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Abstract

Introduction:

Burnout in firefighter/paramedics (FF/EMT-Ps) is widely believed to exist, but few empirical data support its existence, symptomatology, or intervention. Understanding the extent, nature, and cause of burnout is crucial to improving employee morale and performance.

Study Population:

Ninety-one FF/EMT-Ps employed by Salt Lake County Fire Department.

Hypotheses:

Three specific hypotheses were tested: 1) FF/EMT-Ps who score high on burnout also will score high on authoritarianism; 2) FF/EMT-Ps who score high on burnout also will score high on inner-directedness; and 3) FF/EMT-Ps who score high on burnout also will score high on sensation seeking.

Methods:

In this descriptive study, FF/EMT-Ps computed four standardized instruments measuring authoritarianism, burnout, inner-directedness versus other-directedness and sensation seeking.

Results:

Firefighters who scored high on burnout also scored high on authoritarianism and on the sensation-seeking subscale of boredom. Burnout did not correlate with the overall sensation-seeking scale or with its other subscales (thrill, experience, and disinhibition), or inner-directedness versus other-directedness.

Conclusion:

A focus on control issues needs to be an integral part of programs for decreasing employee burnout among FF/EMT-Ps. Specific components of such programs should include stress management and counseling. In addition, management personnel need to be taught not only to assist direct-service staff, but also to recognize and deal with their own control issues as they affect job performance.

Keywords

authoritarianismburnoutfirefighterinner/other directednessmanagement styleparamedicperformancesensation seekingstress
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , March 1996 , pp. 11 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1996

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