Fulfillment among Professional and Volunteer Firefighters

In her work at the Department of Psychology, psychologist Anja Lehmann conducts research into the concept of “a life well lived” in different spheres of life. In her Master’s thesis, she examined how humans experience purpose in the context of their work. Her findings are based on an online survey of some 600 members of professional and volunteer fire departments. The study reveals that volunteers consistently perceive their lives as more meaningful and have a higher sense of fulfillment than their professional counterparts. Volunteers generally regard their work as a vocation and are better able to satisfy their basic need for autonomy and relationships. The results also show that camaraderie and generativity (i.e. doing or creating something with lasting value) contribute greatly to a sense of purpose.  Anja Lehmann's study leads to a broader understanding of work, one that encompasses activity beyond paid labor; moreover, her findings and the insights gained from voluntary work can be applied in general to employment matters. On display are artifacts and memorabilia from volunteer and professional fire departments.