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. 2025 Mar 5;15(1):7729.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-91799-y.

Research on the relationship between perceived social support and positive coping style of fire rescue personnel with the mediating effects of positive emotions and meaning in life

Yuhan Zhang  1 , Zeqing Wang  2 , Yuying Qin  3 , Song Jin  3   4
Affiliations

Research on the relationship between perceived social support and positive coping style of fire rescue personnel with the mediating effects of positive emotions and meaning in life

Yuhan Zhang et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

In the realm of emergency response, the mental health of fire rescue personnel holds significant importance. Given that they are constantly confronted with sudden disasters, the coping style they adopt has a profound impact on their overall well-being. Although it is already known that there exists a connection between perceived social support and positive coping, the underlying mechanisms remain to be explored. This study was designed with the aim of clarifying how perceived social support influences the positive coping style among fire rescue personnel, as well as identifying the mediating roles played by positive emotions and the sense of meaning in life. To this end, we conducted a survey using relevant scales among 354 fire rescue personnel. The results demonstrated positive correlations among relevant factors and revealed that positive emotions and the sense of meaning in life have significant mediating effects. This paper reveals the internal mechanisms underlying the relationship between perceived social support and positive coping style among fire rescue personnel, aiming to contribute to the improvement of the mental health and rescue capabilities of fire rescue personnel by providing a theoretical basis and practical guidance for improving the mental health and rescue ability of fire rescue personnel. Moreover, they may serve as a guide for future intervention strategies and offer valuable insights for similar research in other high-stress occupations, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of emergency response efforts.

Keywords: Fire rescue personnel; Meaning of life; Occupational health; Perceived social support; Positive coping style; Positive emotion.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Informed consent: This paper, which title is “The relationship between perceived social support and positive coping style in fire rescue personnel: the mediating effect of positive emotions and meaning in life”, is based on the empirical study of fire rescue personnel’s mental health. All subjects in this process had the right to know about this study and agreed to participate in this study. They are no objection to the results and uses of this study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Hypothesized mediating model of positive emotions and meaning in life.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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