Date of Conferral

12-4-2025

Date of Award

December 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Edoardo Naggiar

Abstract

Stress in the workplace results in substantial economic losses for U.S. organizations. The effects of perceived stress on reducing the job performance of first responders continue to be a concern for administrators in emergency response management. Grounded in self-efficacy theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the moderating effects of self efficacy on the relationship between perceived stress and job performance among U.S. first responders. The sample comprised 78 men and 65 women (N = 143) from professional response agencies in the United States. They completed the Perceived Stress Scale, Endicott Work Productivity Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. The Spearman’s rho correlation between perceived stress and job performance was statistically significant, r(143) = .41, 95% CI [.26, .54], p < .01, indicating a moderate positive relationship. A multiple regression analysis including the interaction term (perceived stress × self-efficacy) was also significant, F(1, 139) = 34.34, p < .001, determining that self-efficacy moderated the relationship between perceived stress and job performance. Understanding this relationship can help first responder administrators create training programs and support systems to prepare first responders to manage the effects of perceived stress. The implications for positive social change include the potential for emergency response managers to establish policies and procedures that mitigate stress while enhancing the quality of work life for all U.S. first responders.

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