Association Between Physical Activity and Mental Health Among First Responders With Different Service Roles

Objective: Studies suggest that physical activity (PA) improves psychological recovery in trauma-exposed populations like first responders. However, trauma exposure varies among first responders in relation to their unique service roles and duties. The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction effect of service role (traditional vs. emotional support first responders) and PA on mental health outcomes. Method: Traditional (n = 133) and emotional support (n = 31) first responders completed assessments of physical activity level, along with mental health outcome measures (posttraumatic stress disorder, secondary traumatic stress [STS], burnout, compassion satisfaction, and depression, anxiety, and stress [DAS]). Multiple regression models, controlling for social desirability and stress exposure, were used to examine service role as a moderator of the relationship between PA and mental health outcomes. Results: First responder role (traditional vs. emotional support) moderated the relationship between PA and STS (β = .20, p = .04) and DAS (β = .24, p = .01). Although not predictive for traditional first responders, higher PA was surprisingly associated with higher STS (trend level, β = .17, p = .06) and DAS (β = .19, p = .03) for emotional support first responders. Conclusions: Findings revealed differential responding to PA among first responder subgroups, which suggests that first responders in different service roles may have unique patterns of response to stress. Clinical Impact Statement Findings suggest that the association between physical activity and mental health depends on the service role of the first responder. Those who primarily provide emotional support seem to engage in greater levels of physical activity while also displaying higher levels of psychological distress. It is possible that these first responders are engaging in physical activity as a means to cope with elevated psychological symptoms.