Neuroticism Trait and Mental Health Among Chinese Firefighters: The Moderating Role of Perceived Organizational Support and the Mediating Role of Burnout—A Path Analysis

Yanqiang Tao; Zijuan Ma; Wenxin Hou; Yuanyuan Zhu; Liang Zhang; Liang Zhang; Chunbo Li; Congying Shi

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.870772

Frontiers in Public Health (Apr 2022)

Neuroticism Trait and Mental Health Among Chinese Firefighters: The Moderating Role of Perceived Organizational Support and the Mediating Role of Burnout—A Path Analysis

Yanqiang Tao,
Zijuan Ma,
Wenxin Hou,
Yuanyuan Zhu,
Liang Zhang,
Liang Zhang,
Chunbo Li,
Congying Shi

Affiliations

Yanqiang Tao: Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
Zijuan Ma: School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Wenxin Hou: Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
Yuanyuan Zhu: School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
Liang Zhang: Student Mental Health Education Center, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
Liang Zhang: College of Education for the Future, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
Chunbo Li: College of Education for the Future, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
Congying Shi: School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.870772
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10

Abstract

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Perceived organizational support (POS) in the relationship between neuroticism and job burnout among firefighters received little attention in China. A sampling of 716 firefighters in China, we drew on perceived organization support theory and the notion of support as a buffer in job burnout, examining moderating effects of POS on the relationship between neuroticism and three components of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment). Also, this study explored the mediating effect of burnout on the relationship between neuroticism and mental health (i.e., anxiety and depression). We found that two components (depersonalization and emotional exhaustion) of burnout have significantly mediated the relationship between neuroticism and anxiety and depression. At the same time, POS reinforced the relationship between neuroticism and depersonalization and emotional exhaustion. Therefore, organizations can take our analysis into account when taking actions to improve firefighters' mental health. The implications of these findings were discussed.

Published in Frontiers in Public Health

ISSN: 2296-2565 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health

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