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Journal of Education & Social Sciences - Volume 13, Issue 2 2025
By Saqib Ali. Namra Shahzadi , Muhammad Raza, Mohsin Naseer, Rafia Khalid
10.20547/jess1322513205
Keywords: Transactional Model, Cognitive Appraisal, Coping Mechanism, Teamwork, Occupational Stress, Firefighters
Firefighting is a fundamentally stressful occupation that relies heavily on organized teamwork and effective coping. Traditional stress frameworks including Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, have rarely incorporated team dynamics as integral mechanisms in stress regulation. This study extends this model by examining the mediating roles of teamwork and coping strategies such as problem-focused, emotion-focused and avoidance coping in the relationship between cognitive appraisal and occupational stress among firefighters. The study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional design while data were collected from 400 professional firefighters aged 25–60 years, each with at least five years of operational service experience across nine divisions of Punjab, Pakistan. Standardized and contextually adapted instruments were used including Cognitive Appraisal Scale, Team Process Survey Measure, Brief COPE, and Scale of Occupational Stress for Firefighters (SOOS-F). Results revealed that cognitive appraisal positively predicted problem-focused coping and teamwork while negatively predicted emotion-focused and avoidance coping. Both problem-focused coping and teamwork were associated with lower occupational stress whereas emotion-focused and avoidance coping predicted higher stress levels. Mediation analyses confirmed that teamwork and coping strategies jointly mediated the appraisal–stress relationship indicating both direct and indirect pathways. Theoretically, this study integrates teamwork into Transactional Model of Stress and Coping and enhancing its applicability to high-risk, team-dependent professions. Practically, findings highlight the importance of fostering adaptive coping and teamwork to mitigate operational stress in firefighting perspectives
Submission Date: 18 Nov, 2025 Reviews Completed: 20 Dec, 2025Acceptance Date: 29 Dec, 2025 Publication Date: 31 Dec, 2025