Introduction

People with a high level of anxiety traits are observed to have the tendency to have more intensive emotional reactions that are frequently disproportional with relation to the actual level of risk.

Aim of the research

The aim of research is to expand knowledge on the subject of the relationship between anxiety trait and the effectiveness of activities in a context that is specific for the work of firefighters.

Material and methods

The research encompassed 112 people on duty in the fire services, including 90 men (aged: 32.23 ±7.38 yrs; work experience 9.73 ±6.28 yrs) and 22 women (aged: 28.13 ±2.53 yrs, work experience 5.22 ±4.01 yrs) serving in the State Fire Services. The measurement was conducted with the aid of a standardised questionnaire named the State-Traits Anxiety Inventory (STAI). With the aim of estimating the difficulty with maintaining focus, a scale was applied that is compatible with this problem in the Amen Clinic Abbreviated Brain System Questionnaire.

Results and conclusions

Such factors as years of activity in the fire services and the number of accidents explain 40.5% of the variability of the intensity of anxiety as a disposition (trait anxiety). After taking account of the cognitive factor in the regression model in the form of difficulty with focus, the percentage of the clarified variance increased the trait level to 66%. The conducted analysis facilitated the identification of three differentiated clusters of firefighters (p < 0.001) from the viewpoint of trait anxiety, as well as difficulty with maintaining cognitive focus and the number of accidents.