Predictors of psychological resilience among high-risk professionals: a two-year follow-up study in Dutch firefighters

Background: Psychological resilience refers to positive adaptation in the face of adversity. As a dynamic process, resilient responding depends on the availability and use of biopsychosocial resources. More knowledge is needed about which resources contribute to resilience over time.Objective: To assess whether existential beliefs, sleep quality, and social support represent such resources and predict resilience in Dutch firefighters over a two-year follow-up period.Methods: At baseline, 528 firefighters from 11 regions in the Netherlands participated. Existential beliefs were operationalized as Sense of Coherence (SOC-R) and Meaning in Life (MLQ), sleep quality was assessed with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and social support by colleagues wwith an Organizational Stress (VOS-D) questionnaire. Resilience was measured using the Connor-Davidson Resilience scale (CD-RISC). Follow-up measurements took place after 12 (N = 237) and 24 months (N = 203).Results: Multiple regression analysis showed that, after controlling for baseline resilience, sense of coherence at baseline significantly predicted resilience after 12 months. After 24 months, meaning in life significantly predicted resilience as well. Sleep quality and social support did not predict resilience at any time point, and neither did the covariates age, sex or experienced stressful events.Discussion: Existential beliefs that life is meaningful, comprehensible and manageable may boost resilience in high-risk professionals such as firefighters. Further research is needed to assess whether promoting sense of coherence and meaning in life can become intervention targets aimed at improving resilience.