The effects of physical activity levels of disaster workers on coping with stress and psychological resilience

This study aimed to examine the effects of physical activity levels on coping with stress and psychological resilience among firefighters. The study sample consisted of 263 male personnel working at the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department. The data were collected using the IPAQ-Short Form, Stress Coping Scale, and the Psychological Resilience Scale, and analyzed using SPSS 25.0. According to the findings, 57% of the participants were married, 41.8% were smokers, and 21.3% regularly used medication. In terms of age, 36.9% were aged 40 and above. When physical activity levels were examined, 68.1% were minimally active, 20.9% were inactive, and 11% were highly active. The results indicated that marital status, age, smoking, frequency of exercise, years of service, and regular medication use significantly affected physical activity levels. Physical activity was found to be lower among married individuals, smokers, and those with longer work experience. Furthermore, single firefighters were more physically active, while married individuals demonstrated better coping skills and a stronger tendency to seek social support. As age increased, physical activity decreased, whereas coping skills improved. No direct significant relationship was found between physical activity and psychological resilience. In conclusion, the findings highlight the need to integrate physical and psychological resilience programs into the professional development of firefighters throughout their careers. Anahtar Kelimeler: Fiziksel Aktivite, Stresle Başa Çıkma, Psikolojik Sağlamlık, İtfaiye Personeli.