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Mental Health of Canadian Firefighters: The Impact of Sleep

Author

Listed:
  • Heidi Cramm

    (School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • Rachel Richmond

    (School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • Laleh Jamshidi

    (Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada)

  • Megan Edgelow

    (School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • Dianne Groll

    (Department of Psychiatry, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • Rose Ricciardelli

    (Department of Sociology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada)

  • Joy Christine MacDermid

    (School of Physical Therapy and Surgery, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

  • Michael Keiley

    (Kingston Fire & Rescue, Kingston, ON K7P 1N3, Canada)

  • R. Nicholas Carleton

    (Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada)

Abstract

Volunteer and career firefighters are at risk of major depressive disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use disorder, and other mental health disorders due to the demanding and unpredictable nature of their employment. The mental health risks are exacerbated by the need to work extended hours, night shifts, and/or rotating schedules, or the competing demands of other employment, especially in volunteer firefighters. The mental health disorders and risk factors interact with altered sleeping patterns. In the current study, we examined volunteer and career firefighters regarding the association between mental health and sleep, drawing from a national Canadian mental health survey of 1217 firefighters. Most (69%) of the firefighters reported less than ideal sleep quality and 21% screened positive for clinical insomnia, with no significant difference between volunteer and career subgroups. Firefighters with insomnia had higher odds ratios (OR) and frequencies for PTSD (OR = 4.98), generalized anxiety disorder (OR = 7.15), panic disorder (OR = 6.88), social phobia (OR = 4.98), and major depressive disorder (OR = 7.91), than firefighters without insomnia. The burden of sleep disorders and their association with mental health disorders suggests that sleep should be considered in health monitoring and self-management, environmental design, fire service work-organization policies, and health programming.

Suggested Citation

  • Heidi Cramm & Rachel Richmond & Laleh Jamshidi & Megan Edgelow & Dianne Groll & Rose Ricciardelli & Joy Christine MacDermid & Michael Keiley & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2021. "Mental Health of Canadian Firefighters: The Impact of Sleep," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:13256-:d:703701
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vera Straat & Piet Bracke, 2015. "How well does Europe sleep? A cross-national study of sleep problems in European older adults," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 60(6), pages 643-650, September.
    2. R. Nicholas Carleton & Tracie O. Afifi & Tamara Taillieu & Sarah Turner & Julia E. Mason & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Donald R. McCreary & Adam D. Vaughan & Gregory S. Anderson & Rachel L. Krakauer & Eli, 2020. "Assessing the Relative Impact of Diverse Stressors among Public Safety Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Andréanne Angehrn & Michelle J. N. Teale Sapach & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Renée S. MacPhee & Gregory S. Anderson & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2020. "Sleep Quality and Mental Disorder Symptoms among Canadian Public Safety Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-14, April.
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