Assessing Mental Toughness in Firefighting: A Barry University Study

Firefighting is one of the most demanding professions, requiring not only physical endurance but also exceptional psychological resilience. Recognizing the critical role of mental toughness (MT) in this field, Zacharias Papadakis and Peter Beitia, from the Barry University Department of Health Promotion and Clinical Practice, along with Andreas Stamatis from the University of Louisville, embarked on a study to evaluate the effectiveness of two MT assessment tools in a firefighting context.

Conducted in collaboration with the University of Louisville, this study aimed to test the reliability and validity of the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) and the Military Training Mental Toughness Inventory (MTMTI) among firefighters. Despite their proven effectiveness in sports and military settings, these tools had not been validated for use in firefighting—a profession with its own unique challenges and stressors.

The research involved 62 male firefighters from two South Florida fire departments. Over two days, participants completed the SMTQ, a self-assessment tool, while their peers and officers assessed their MT using the MTMTI. This two-wave longitudinal design allowed for a thorough evaluation of the concurrent validity and inter-rater reliability of these instruments.

The study revealed several critical insights:

1. Inter-Rater Reliability: The MTMTI showed minimal agreement among raters, with low kappa values indicating substantial variability in how different raters assessed the same individuals’ mental toughness.

2. Internal Consistency: The MTMTI’s internal consistency scores varied, showing poor reliability on the first day and slightly better, but still low, reliability on the second day.

3. Concurrent Validity: The correlation between SMTQ scores and MTMTI ratings was weak, suggesting that self-assessed MT scores did not align well with peer and officer assessments. This raises questions about the concurrent validity of these instruments in the firefighting context.

Implications for Firefighting

These findings underscore the need for developing MT assessment tools specifically tailored for firefighting. While the SMTQ and MTMTI have been effective in sports and military contexts, their application to firefighting shows significant limitations. This study highlights the importance of creating context-specific instruments that account for the unique demands and stressors of firefighting.

Zacharias Papadakis and Peter Beitia’s work at Barry University, alongside Andreas Stamatis from the University of Louisville, represents a crucial step towards better understanding and supporting the mental toughness required in firefighting. Future research should focus on developing and validating MT instruments designed specifically for this profession. Such tools could lead to improved training, support, and performance among firefighters, ultimately enhancing their ability to cope with the extreme demands of their job.