Perceived organisational support and occupational depression among firefighters: Evidence from a sub-Saharan African emergency services context

Occupational depression is underexplored among emergency service personnel in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined the relationship between perceived organisational support (POS) and occupational depression among firefighters of the Ghana National Fire Service, the first empirical test of organisational support theory in a West African emergency services context. A total of 333 firefighters completed validated measures of POS and occupational depression. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and hierarchical regression, controlling for demographic factors. POS correlated negatively with occupational depression (r = –0.50, p  < .01) and explained an additional 26.4% of variance beyond demographic predictors (β = –0.52, 95% CI [–0.33, –0.22], p  < .001). Organisational support is associated with lower work-related depressive symptoms among Ghanaian firefighters. The results extend organisational support theory to collectivist, resource-constrained contexts and highlight the need for culturally responsive organisational interventions in (sub-Saharan) African emergency services.