Pre-career exposure to violence as a predictor of emotional distress among police recruits

The occupational risks to police mental health are widely known; however, less is known about how early life experiences and pre-academy stressors influence the emotional wellness of recruits in an academy setting. The present study investigated the links between pre-career exposure to violence and emotional wellness among a sample of 1,072 police recruits. Results of path analyses revealed that direct exposure to physical violence prior to age 18 was a significant factor for recruit emotional distress, whereas indirect exposure to violence did not significantly predict emotional distress. Findings carry implications for considering a lifespan approach to understanding police stress.

Psychometric Properties of the Serbian Version of the Operational and Organizational Police Stress Questionnaires

The Police Operational Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Op) and Police Organizational Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Org) have been used to assess operational and organizational sources of police officers’ occupational stress. Considering that different cultural and socio-economic environments could affect officers’ perception of operational and organizational stress, country specific psychometric properties and cut-off values should be defined. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Serbian version of the PSQ-Op and PSQ-Org (i.e., translated in Serbian and adjusted to Serbian culture) and to establish cut-off values for low, moderate and high stress. Methods: The PSQ-Op and PSQ-Org were administered to police officers through the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia. Participants included 1220 police officers (19.0% female) who correctly completed both questionnaires. Cronbach’s α was used to determine the reliability of instruments. Cut-off values for low, moderate and high stress were defined based on the mean and standard deviation of the sample and using percentile analysis. Prevalence of low, moderate and high stress was calculated according to already established cut-off values as well as those calculated based on the study sample. Results: Both instruments showed high reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.963 [95% Confidence Interval = 0.957–0.964]). Occupational stress levels (low, moderate and high) were distributed differently (p < 0.001) when categorized according to the cut-off values defined in literature and cut-off values based on the study sample. The cut-off values by mean and standard deviation could be used for PSQ-Op, while cut-off values by percentile analysis could be used for PSQ-Org.

On-the-job stress and challenges faced by police personnel of Bishnupur district in COVID-19 times

Background: The pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for law enforcement agencies. Police officers are often directly or indirectly involved in the pandemic response and have a higher risk of getting the infection. Our study aims to assess on-the-job stress and challenges faced by the police personnel of Bishnupur district, Manipur, and to determine the factors associated with it.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the police personnel from December 2020 to January 2021. Occupational stress was measured using the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire and, a pre-tested questionnaire for coping mechanisms and attitude were used to collect data by interview method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA. 73.2% of them have experienced moderate to high stress and the maximum was found among the Sub-inspectors (Mean score: 3.51±1.20). Stress was mostly due to not having enough time available to spend with friends and family (3.58±2.01), and work overtime (3.27±1.84). Police personnel agreed that there was an increased number of violent confrontations between the public and them while enforcing new regulations and restrictions. The majority of the participants have been accepting the reality of the fact that it has happened and learn to live with it as a coping mechanism.Conclusions: Occupational stress is high among the police personnel of Bishnupur District and it was significantly associated with age, marital status, social stigma, and willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine. There is a need for holistic support for their job satisfaction.

Explaining Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Chinese Police Officers

Policing can be stressful, especially during public crises such as the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic. Using survey data from 600 police officers in a large city in West China, this study examines the prevalence of police stress increase during the pandemic’s peak month, compared pre-pandemic, and assesses a range of personal and work-related risk and protective factors of police stress. We found that Chinese officers suffered widespread, increased levels of stress during the peak pandemic month. Sources of police stress primarily came from changes in workloads and fear of contracting COVID-19. Perceived effectiveness of agency protection of officers against the COVID-19 risk, sufficient amount of sleep, and increased family time significantly reduced stress. These results bear important research and policy implications.

Factors Affecting Police Stress: A Study of Maharashtra Pol,2Dr. Surya Rashmi Rawat, ice

Purpose: Police officers are vulnerable to experience work stress, whatever the field or function they perform. Stress is police is complex given the multitude of factors that can result in stress for the police personnel. Literature has identified several different stressors for the police. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that influence work stress on police officers. Methodology: It is a quantitative study wherein sing a sample for 402 police personnel from the Ahmednagar and Jalnadistrict of Maharashtra, the key stressors for the police personnel were examined. Respondents were given the modified Police Stress Survey (PSS). Stressors for police were identified by doing factor analysis. These factors and their explanations are then delved into to appreciate the context of the work. Findings: After a factor analysis was done it was found that four key categories of stressors that are relevant for the sample are Factor1 with 9 items were measuring organisational Characteristics with variance of 26.49%, Factor 2 with 8 items measuring nature of work in police department with variance of 18.39%, Factor 3 with 3 items measuring public dealing of police while on job with variance of 8.32% and Factor 4 with 3 items measuring personal characteristics of police with variance of 7.82%. Research Limitations: The factor analysis is done using Police Stress Survey, if any other stress scale is used, finds may differ and other factors may uncover. Originality/ Value: There is dearth of studies on Police. Since this study is on stress with specific reference to Police, it has added to limited literature/ research that is available on Indian Police.

Socijalna podrška, stres, izgaranje i zdravlje kod policijskih službenika

Cilj rada bio je ispitati izvore socijalne podrške (obitelj, kolege, nadređeni) kod policijskih službenika te njihovu ulogu s obzirom na izgaranje, zdravlje, policijski i opći stres. Korišteni su sljedeći upitnici: Skala socijalne podrške (Social Support Scale), Upitnik izgaranja na poslu - MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), Upitnici organizacijskih i operativnih izvora stresa (Organizational Police Stress Questionnaire, Operational Police Stress Questionnaire, PSQ-Org, PSQ-Op), dok su životni stres i 4 vrste zdravlja (opće, tjelesno, psihičko, zdravlje od ulaska u MUP) ispitani pomoću tvrdnji koje su autori konstruirali u svrhu istraživanja. Pokazalo se da policajci procjenjuju da imaju značajno najveću podršku kolega, potom obitelji, a najmanje podršku nadređenih. Pronađene su značajne razlike među policajcima koji procjenjuju da imaju manju i onih koji procjenjuju da imaju veću podršku s obzirom na izgaranje, zdravlje, policijski i opći stres. Pronađen je i značajan moderatorski utjecaj podrške obitelji na odnos operativnog stresa i tjelesnog zdravlja. Pokazalo se da policajci značajno stresnijim procjenjuju organizacijski u usporedbi s operativnim stresom.