Publication date: Sep 14, 2025
Background/Objectives: Family is a key protective factor for firefighters’ mental health, yet the home-related challenges of firefighting’s occupational demands remain underexplored in South Korea. This study aimed to establish an initial understanding of these challenges by conducting in-depth interviews with male firefighters and analyzing their lived experiences using a phenomenological approach. Methods: Twenty-nine married male firefighters (mean age = 43. 4 years, range = 31-55) affiliated with the Busan Fire Department participated in individual telephone interviews between April and July 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed using Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method, with NVivo Pro 12. 0 employed for coding and organization. Results: Six themes were identified: (1) acting as an emergency commander at home, (2) reinterpreting traumatic experiences after marriage, (3) physical and emotional exhaustion from irregular schedules, (4) being national heroes misunderstood by families, (5) guilt-ridden and indebted Superman, and (6) striving to be Superman at home as well. These themes reflected the overarching meaning of a “lonely breadwinner struggling to be Superman both at work and home. ” Participants described hyperarousal, emotional withdrawal, strained relationships, guilt over missed family events, and compensatory overextension. Distress was often concealed to protect families, but this limited emotional support. Conclusions: Korean male firefighters face significant work-family conflict shaped by cultural and occupational factors. These findings highlight the need for family-centered counseling, psychoeducation, and organizational interventions. Policy measures such as guaranteed rest after shifts, couple-based communication programs, and resilience-building initiatives are recommended to strengthen families as vital sources of psychological resilience.
Open Access PDF
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Breadwinner | family support |
| July | firefighters |
| Korean | phenomenology |
| Pandemic | qualitative research |
| Superman | work–family conflict |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 pandemic |
| disease | MESH | emergency |
| disease | MESH | emotional exhaustion |
| disease | MESH | post traumatic stress disorder |
| disease | MESH | depression |
| disease | MESH | anxiety |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Ethanol |
| disease | MESH | burnout |
| disease | IDO | process |
| disease | MESH | death |
| disease | MESH | workplace stress |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Spinosad |
| disease | IDO | intervention |
| disease | IDO | role |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Esomeprazole |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Coenzyme M |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Trihexyphenidyl |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Isoxaflutole |
| disease | MESH | secondary trauma |
| disease | MESH | emotional distress |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Nonoxynol-9 |
| pathway | KEGG | Circadian rhythm |
| disease | MESH | caregiver burden |
| disease | IDO | site |
| disease | MESH | job performance |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Trestolone |
| disease | MESH | comorbidity |
| disease | MESH | sleep disorders |
| drug | DRUGBANK | (S)-Des-Me-Ampa |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Niflumic Acid |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Guanosine |
| disease | MESH | lifestyle |
| disease | MESH | cardiovascular risk factors |