Gender-Specific Network Structures of Depression and PTSD Symptoms in Chinese Firefighters.

BACKGROUND: Firefighters are frequently exposed to severe stressors, leading to high rates of comorbid depression and PTSD, yet research exploring gender differences in these conditions remains limited. OBJECTIVE: This study employed symptom network analysis to examine the comorbid network structure and gender-specific bridge symptoms of depression and PTSD among Chinese firefighters. METHODS: Data from 6240 firefighters (5357 males, 883 females, M age = 29.33, SD age = 5.57) were analyzed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C). Network analysis was adopted to explore the interconnections between depression and PTSD symptoms, and network comparison test was conducted to examine gender differences. RESULTS: The results indicated that female firefighters had significantly higher PTSD and depression scores compared to male firefighters. Across all firefighters, PHQ4 (feeling tired), PHQ9 (suicide), and PCL-13 (sleep difficulties) acted as bridge symptoms connecting depression and PTSD; however, bridge nodes differed markedly by gender. PHQ4 (feeling tired) and PHQ7 (trouble concentrating) served as female-specific bridge symptoms tied to internalized affective and cognitive struggles, whereas male-specific bridge symptoms were PHQ8 (impaired motor skills) and PHQ9 (suicide), corresponding to externalized dysfunction and acute crisis symptoms. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the importance of gender-specific interventions.