Lifestyle behaviours and perceived well-being in different fire service roles

Turner, P. J. F., Siddall, A. G., Stevenson, R. D. M., Standage, M. and Bilzon, J. L. J. (2018) Lifestyle behaviours and perceived well-being in different fire service roles. Occupational Medicine, 68 (8). pp. 537-543. ISSN 1471-8405

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Abstract

Aspects of the work environment influence employee well-being. However, it is unclear how employee lifestyle behaviours, health characteristics and well-being may differ within a broader occupational sector. To investigate the health characteristics, lifestyle behaviours and well-being of three Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) occupational groups that differ in shift work and occupational demands: operational firefighters (FF), emergency control (EC) and administrative support (AS) workers. Data were obtained via an online survey using previously validated questionnaires to assess health characteristics, lifestyle behaviours and perceived well-being. Differences between groups were explored, controlling for confounding variables, using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) methods. Effect sizes are reported where appropriate to demonstrate clinical significance. Four thousand five hundred and sixty-four FRS personnel volunteered, with 3333 (73%) completing the survey out of a total workforce of 60000 (8%). FF reported the lowest prevalence of chronic medical conditions (10%), compared with AS (21%) and EC (19%) workers. Total physical activity (PA) was 66% higher among FF compared with EC and AS workers. Components of sleep and self-rated health were independent predictors of well-being irrespective of FRS role. FF reported the highest levels of PA and highest perceptions of well-being, and the lowest prevalence of obesity and chronic medical conditions, compared with other FRS occupational groups. These findings may be used to inform FRS workplace intervention strategies.

Publication Type: Articles
Additional Information: © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. The version of record 'Lifestyle behaviours and perceived well-being in different fire service roles' P J F Turner, A G Siddall, R D M Stevenson, M Standage, J L J Bilzon, Occupational Medicine, Volume 68, Issue 8, 16 November 2018, Pages 537–543, is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqy110
Uncontrolled Keywords: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, lifestyle, occupation, physical activity, shift work, sleep, well-being, firefighters, employee, Fire and rescue service.
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV201 Physical education and training
H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Area > Exercise Physiology
SWORD Depositor: Publications Router Jisc
Depositing User: Publications Router Jisc
Date Deposited: 06 Dec 2018 11:15
Last Modified: 01 Jun 2020 13:22
URI: https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/3841

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