ORIGINAL PAPER
Perceived supervisor support and job stress
among firefighters in Vietnam: examining
the mediating role of psychological capital
1
Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam
2
FPT University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Submission date: 2026-01-13
Final revision date: 2026-04-29
Acceptance date: 2026-05-11
Online publication date: 2026-07-20
Corresponding author
Nguyen Thi Anh Thu
Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Firefighters are at particularly high risk of job stress (JS), which can lead to serious physical and psychological problems as well as impaired job performance. Perceived supervisor support (PSS) and psychological capital (PsyCap) have been shown to be associated with JS. However, to date, no study has simultaneously examined the relationships among these variables, especially within the firefighting context. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether PsyCap mediates the relationship between PSS and JS among Vietnamese firefighters.
Participants and procedure:
Of the 535 questionnaires distributed to Vietnamese firefighters, 517 valid responses were retained for analysis. Participants (Mage = 30.7 years, SDage = 5.0) completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire assessing PSS, PsyCap, and JS. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).
Results:
PSS was negatively associated with JS (β = −.27, p < .001) and positively associated with PsyCap (β = .61, p < .001). PsyCap was negatively associated with JS (β = −.17, p = .007). Furthermore, PsyCap significantly mediated the relationship between PSS and JS (β = −.10, p = .007), supporting all proposed hypotheses.
Conclusions:
The findings highlight the role of PSS in reducing JS among firefighters through the enhancement of PsyCap. These results suggest practical implications for developing effective strategies to mitigate work-related stress by enhancing supportive supervisory practices and fostering firefighters’ PsyCap as a sustainable personal resource for coping with occupational demands.
Firefighters are at particularly high risk of job stress (JS), which can lead to serious physical and psychological problems as well as impaired job performance. Perceived supervisor support (PSS) and psychological capital (PsyCap) have been shown to be associated with JS. However, to date, no study has simultaneously examined the relationships among these variables, especially within the firefighting context. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether PsyCap mediates the relationship between PSS and JS among Vietnamese firefighters.
Participants and procedure:
Of the 535 questionnaires distributed to Vietnamese firefighters, 517 valid responses were retained for analysis. Participants (Mage = 30.7 years, SDage = 5.0) completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire assessing PSS, PsyCap, and JS. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).
Results:
PSS was negatively associated with JS (β = −.27, p < .001) and positively associated with PsyCap (β = .61, p < .001). PsyCap was negatively associated with JS (β = −.17, p = .007). Furthermore, PsyCap significantly mediated the relationship between PSS and JS (β = −.10, p = .007), supporting all proposed hypotheses.
Conclusions:
The findings highlight the role of PSS in reducing JS among firefighters through the enhancement of PsyCap. These results suggest practical implications for developing effective strategies to mitigate work-related stress by enhancing supportive supervisory practices and fostering firefighters’ PsyCap as a sustainable personal resource for coping with occupational demands.
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