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Police officers are frequently faced with chronic and acute stressors, such as excessive workload, organizational stressors and emotionally charged reports. This study aims to examine the relationship between a form of chronic strain (ie, burnout symptoms) and a resource (ie, coping self-efficacy) in a sample of Dutch police officers. Specifically, we aim to investigate the existence of a loss cycle of resources. We use Latent Change Score modeling to investigate the potential depletion or loss cycle of coping self-efficacy as a result of burnout symptoms in a sample of 95 police officers who completed a survey on three consecutive timepoints. The lag between the measurements was approximately one year. We found that, during both one-year intervals, within-person increases in burnout symptoms were related to within-person decreases in coping self-efficacy. Also, the results emphasize the buffering role of coping self-efficacy for burnout symptoms, as within-person decreases in coping self-efficacy during the first year were associated with within-person increases in burnout symptoms during the following year. Together, the results imply that a loss cycle of coping self-efficacy and burnout symptoms may occur. For this we used Latent Change Score modeling, which is a relatively new approach which provides researchers with the opportunity to analyse multi-wave longitudinal data while focusing on within-person changes over time. Practically, police organizations are advised to monitor personnel wellbeing and resources, to maintain and promote sustainable employability of police officers and to be able to timely provide individuals with interventions. Limitations discussed are the use of self-report measures and large intervals between the measurements. Finally, future directions of research are discussed that would circumvent the reported limitations, such as multiple wave with shorter lags and incorporating confounding factors that could affect coping self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses police officers' identification of vulnerable victims and responses to these victims. Using an Articulated Thoughts in Simulated Situations (ATSS) approach, police officers (n = 51) responded to two scenarios regarding a victim who reported either a property crime or a stalking incident. After hearing each scenario, participants judged whether the victim was vulnerable or not and discussed which they would propose any protection measures. Findings showed that a majority of the participants identified the victim as vulnerable. Participants mainly based their judgements on indicators related to the incident or its consequences. Regardless of their judgement, participants proposed a variety of protection measures. Both this finding and the majority of vulnerability judgements suggest that police officers may act out of the principle of 'better safe than sorry'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: British Columbia, Canada, is experiencing an overdose crisis that has pushed drug liberalization policies to the forefront of the response. This study examines police officers' perceptions of enforcement and drug liberalization policies, including support for decriminalization and regulation or 'safer supply', in this context. Methods: Qualitative interview data were collected in September-November 2020 from active police officers involved in drug law enforcement in British Columbia, prior to decriminalization reforms being introduced in the province. We conducted a thematic analysis of this data with a focus on police officer views towards drug enforcement and drug liberalization policies. Results: Policing and reforms amid the overdose crisis has shaped officer perceptions and actions towards illegal drugs and drug policies. Although officers saw overdose as a health issue, these views coincided with a strong emphasis on supply-side policing, such as drug trafficking investigations. Policing continues to be entrenched in the overdose crisis, which has impacted the way police officers view drugs and drug use, particularly, their belief that current interventions to disrupt the illegal drug market are not working. Conclusion: This study advances knowledge on the motivations for promoting drug enforcement, and enacting drug policies, in the context of an overdose crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musculoskeletal disorders occur frequently in industrial settings, and police officers in particular are at high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders due to the nature of their work, but research on this is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders according to the job functions of police officers. A survey was conducted, targeting active-duty police officers, and data were collected from 4268 respondents who answered all items on the questionnaire. As a control group, we used the general population dataset from the 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in Korea. The survey included general information such as gender, age, working hours, and type of work. It also investigated medical utilization, including the frequency of medical visits and hospitalizations. The assessment of musculoskeletal disorders was analyzed using pain NRS, VAS, SPADI, and ODI. The working characteristics of police officers were found to be more irregular in terms of working hours and involved a higher intensity of work activities compared with the general population. However, there was a lack of precise diagnoses and continuous treatment for these disorders. These results imply that police officers' occupational characteristics are related to musculoskeletal disorders. Considering the direct relationship between police officers' health and public safety, systematic evaluation and management of their musculoskeletal disorders are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine which domain in conflict management and internal control significantly predicts the quality of work-life of police officers. Quantitative research utilizing a descriptive correlation survey was used in this study. Among the 178 total population, 123 police officers from the South Cotabato Police Provincial office were considered as respondents of this study using Slovin's formula. Adopted questionnaires were modified and used to gather the data. Considering this study is a descriptive correlational survey, Mean, Pearson R, and regression analysis were employed to treat the gathered data. This reveals that the conflict management level is high. The level of police internal control is high. At the same time, the quality of work-life for the police is high. Further, there was a significant relationship between conflict management and quality of worklife, internal control, and quality of work-life. The best domain that significantly predicts the quality of work-life of police officers in conflict management is applying a conflict management approach. In contrast, in terms of internal control, cash control is the best domain that significantly predicts the quality of work life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study draws from the motivation scholarship to argue that employees with higher Public Service Motivation (PSM) are prosocial and altruistic and that public safety workers likely have a higher PSM, increasing their commitment to public service and job satisfaction. The study tests the proposition using survey data from 927 public sector employees in Mississippi using OLS regressions and independent t-tests. Findings show that PSM and public safety work have additive effects on employee job satisfaction. However, public safety workers do not necessarily report higher PSM. The high-risk, trauma-filled nature of public safety work can be satisfying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research has discussed the "police personality." Yet, it is still unclear what particular traits make up the police personality—or whether it exists at all. This can be partially attributed to the limited availability of data collected within individual police departments. Using a nationally representative sample of adults (Add Health), the current study examines whether the Big Five personality traits, temperamental characteristics, and empirically informed covariates are related to being a police officer. Results indicate that, compared to the general population, individuals in law enforcement score significantly lower on openness to experience. Police officers are also more likely than non-officers to have experienced divorce, served in the military, lean politically conservative, and be male. These findings provide partial support for the notion that there are distinct factors that define the police personality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the abundance of studies on the public perception of the Nigeria Police Force and the policing operations of officials of the law enforcement agency, there is a paucity of empirical research on the life and lived experiences of police officers as it concerns their occupational identity. Thus, this study investigated the impact of occupational identity on the social relations of police officers in Ibadan City, Nigeria. Symbolic interactionism theory guided the research, while data were elicited from serving and retired police officers through the combination of in-depth interview, key informant interview and focus group discussion methods. All the respondents affirmed that their work-related experiences in Nigeria over the years have consistently shown that most members of the society typically attached negativity to the police occupation. Nevertheless, there was a consensus amongst them that their involvement in police occupation conferred on them certain benefits in society. Respondents recognised the negative impact of their occupational identity on their social relations and were adopting different measures to mitigate it. There is a need for the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) to design a functional roadmap through which the existing police-public gap can be systematically bridged by periodically organising public outreach and social programmes that will be strategically tailored towards systematically bringing together police officials and members of the public in a relaxed non-professional setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic conveyed consequences for people's physical and mental health. During the worst pandemic scenarios, police officers were one of the most exposed populations. This situation brought these professionals unusual responsibilities, such as adjust work shifts and allocate police officers from operational and administrative services to the Covid-19 supervision teams and put them at an elevated risk of contracting the virus because they are also frontline workers too, and they often did not have personal protective equipment. Due to this, the main objective of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of the Fear of Covid-19 among police officers, as well as to know how the fear of Covid-19 relates to the mental health during the worst wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Portugal. Participants were 174 police officers aged between 23 and 58 years old (M = 40.81; SD = 6.83) who completed the Fear of Covid-19 Scale, the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire, and the Posttraumatic Disorder Checklist for DSM-5. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a good adjustment fit for the two-factor model. Construct validity was supported, and the internal consistency was good for both periods of assessment. The model proved invariant for both groups (pre and during lockdown) at the measurement, scalar, and structural levels. Study findings suggest that the Portuguese Version of FCV-19S is a reliable measure to assess the fear of Covid-19 among police officers, including during the pandemic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has placed perceived organizational injustice as the main precursor of police corrupt tendencies. However, this line of research has largely ignored the role of equity sensitivity in the relations between organizational injustice and police corrupt tendencies. This is imperative because individuals' preferences for equal ratio of inputs to outcomes are not the same as the equity theory claimed. Therefore, the current study expanded previous research by examining the impact of equity sensitivity on police corrupt tendencies on one hand, and its moderating role in injustice-corrupt tendencies relationship on the other hand. A sample of 236 police officers in Nigeria participated in the study. Results of the hierarchical regression analysis indicated that corrupt tendencies were lower in police officers with higher equity sensitivity (i.e., benevolents) than those with low equity sensitivity (i.e., entitleds). Furthermore, the negative impact of perceived organizational injustice on corrupt tendencies was weaker for police with higher equity sensitivity. These findings have important implications for managerial practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Police officers are at a high risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) owing to the nature of their work. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the risk of NIHL in police officers and controls. Methods This study used the National Health Insurance claims data of workers aged 25–65 years obtained from 2005 to 2015. The case group comprised police officers, while the control group comprised general workers and public officers. The study followed a three-phase cohort design. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was calculated using an indirect standardization method based on age. Propensity score matching was performed using the greedy matching method, with a police officer-to-control group ratio of 1:3. Cox regression analysis was performed for each matched control group. Statistical significance was determined by a lower limit of greater than 1, based on the 95% confidence interval (CI). Results The SIR values for police officers were 1.62 (95% CI: 1.44–1.82) compared with general workers and 1.78 (95% CI: 1.66–1.73) compared with public officers. Police officers exhibited an increased risk of NIHL compared with general workers (hazard ratio (HR): 1.71, 95% CI: 1.49–1.98) and public officers (HR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.88–2.56). Conclusions It is necessary to prevent NIHL by reducing occupational noise exposure through measures such as wearing earplugs, improving shooting training methods, and improving the shift work system.

Policing by its very nature has been widely recognised as being inherently stressful with little that can be done to prevent police officers' exposure to both primary and secondary trauma. Officers involved in the investigation of child abuse and sexual offences have been further recognised as working in some of the most stressful and demanding roles in policing. However, there has been little research within this high-risk group of officers which seeks to understand how they cope with both the organisational and occupational stressors they are exposed to, as well as which strategies help them to ' get up in the morning '. Data were collected through twenty-three (23) semi-structured interviews, with Straussian Grounded Theory used as a framework to develop a model of coping. This study highlighted that although some officers were affected by the traumatic nature of their work, there were other risk factors present which appear to have impacted on them more significantly including 'burnout', 'compassion fatigue' and 'moral injury'. Protective factors were identified as 'being in control', 'organisational, social and peer support' as well as 'having a purpose' all of which impacted on an officer's ability to cope with the work they do. The present findings extend our knowledge of key concepts relating to police officer coping which may help officers working in these high-risk roles to cope with challenges they face daily. Recommendations for further research on how to support this group of officers, as well as implications for practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Determining the types of professional performance in police officers through correlating the effectiveness and “cost” of activities and identifying the expression of professionally important qualities for each of them allows us to develop and implement programmes of psychological support for employees to preserve their professional health and longevity Objectives. The aim of the study is to identify the professionally important qualities of Arkhangelsk police officers with different types of job performance, recommended for a higher position. Study Participants. The study involved 78 employees of the Arkhangelsk police department (56 males, 22 females) aged from 24 to 55 years Methods. The parameters of effectiveness and “cost” of the activity were assessed using questionnaires, instrumental methods and the M. Luscher colour test. Professionally important qualities were diagnosed with a battery of psychological testing methods recommended for use at police departments. Statistical methods included descriptive statistics, two-stage cluster analysis, χ2 for contingency tables and multivariate analysis of variance. Results. Four types of professional performance have been identified in police officers: 1) high performance, 2) average efficiency while saving resources, 3) efficiency due to the “cost” of the activity, 4) reduced performance. It has been established that there are no statistically significant differences between police officers with different types of professional performance regarding age, work experience, and professional orientation. Conclusions. Police officers with different types of professional performance differ in their attitude to work, cognitive and intellectual abilities, socio-psychological, emotional-volitional and leadership qualities.

Sweden is considered to be among the most gender-equal countries globally and this philosophy influences every aspect of Swedish culture from medical care to foreign policy. It is not clear, however, to what extent this approach has been accepted or adopted by Swedish police officers. Using interviews with 27 Swedish police officers, this study explores the use of gender rhetoric in descriptions of victims. By performing an inductive thematic analysis, we find that officers have internalised the gender-equal approach but make statements alluding to adaptation of both gender-blind and gender-aware rhetoric when describing victims. When describing their own personal experiences with victims, officers use language informed by gender stereotypes and gender performativity suggesting that these principles have not been fully adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research evaluates the psychometric properties of the Romanian version of the Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), featuring operational and organizational stress scales for police officers. We conducted three studies to test the reliability and validity of this questionnaire. The first study (N = 744) aimed at adapting and validating the Romanian version on the specific population. Confirmatory factor analysis of our two-factor model, each with 20 items grouped in a second-order factor, showed the good value of the fit indices: χ²(738) = 1420.11, p <.001; CFI = 0.992; TLI = 0.992; RMSEA = 0.035 [90% CI 0.033, 0.038]; SRMR = 0.059. Subsequently, we tested measurement invariance, demonstrating that the Romanian version of this questionnaire measures workplace stress (including operational and organizational stress factors) independently of the work environment (police officers vs. correctional officers). The second study (N = 394) confirmed PSQ's convergent validity through positive correlations with stress perception, burnout, mental health complaints, and psychological distress and its discriminant validity through negative correlations with job satisfaction and work engagement. The third study tested the longitudinal invariance of the stress questionnaire for police (N = 317). The findings suggest that the PSQ is a reliable and valid tool, highlighting its significant impact on the well-being of Romanian police officers by facilitating stress management interventions through baseline and ongoing stress assessment. Future research should longitudinally assess police stress, incorporating multi-source data and diverse units, as well as exploring the impact of socio-demographic aspects for broader insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the consideration of effective methods of training police officers to conduct fire operations in situations with limited visibility. The study analyzed modern challenges in policing in difficult conditions of limited visibility, such as night operations or bad weather conditions. In turn, the training of qualified specialists should be aimed at the formation of skills and abilities that correspond to the professional and qualification characteristics of the work of police officers, the tasks that are set before them by society and correspond to the realities of the practical component of official activity. The quality of professional training is directly dependent on the forms and methods of training that are chosen to achieve the set goals. These forms and methods should be professionally oriented. Taking this into account, practical exercises in fire training in conditions of limited visibility can be considered as a special type of training. The article examines various aspects of firearms training, such as shooting in the dark, the use of infrared technology, and specialized equipment for police officers. The authors offer optimal methods and strategies for improving the effectiveness of professional training of graduates of higher education institutions of the National Police of Ukraine, in particular, taking into account the features of limited visibility and the risks associated with these conditions. On the basis of the conducted research, a set of measures has been developed that contribute to increasing the effectiveness of conducting fire training with cadets in the dark, in conditions of smoke and other factors of limited visibility. The results of the study can be the basis for improving the fire training programs of higher education graduates of the National Police of Ukraine and contribute to increasing their readiness to act in conditions of limited visibility and to quickly make appropriate decisions during the performance of professional duties in under normal conditions, conditions of time limitation, and sometimes resource limitation, in the dark, critical and extreme situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the possibility of Belief in a Just World (BJW) acting as a personal resource for police officers, simultaneously protecting their well-being through voice behaviour, vertical trust, and work-family conflict. The sample comprised 573 police officers who voluntarily consented to answer an anonymous online survey. Self-reported measures of personal BJW, voice behaviour, vertical trust, work-family conflict, and well-being were collected. The results of a parallel multiple mediator model (controlling for quantitative demands) showed that all three mediators were significant. Therefore, we found support for BJW acting as a personal resource by simultaneously protecting police officers’ well-being through boosting both voice behaviour and vertical trust, and reducing work-family conflict. Work-family conflict was found to have the largest effect size in the mediation mechanism between BJW and police officers’ well-being. The implications of these results for future research and intervention in police organisations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: With the impending implementation of Taiwan’s Mental Health Act in November 2024, the role of police officers and firefighters in assisting individuals with mental health issues in the community is more important than ever. This study aims to assess levels of mental illness literacy and crisis intervention confidence among police and firefighting personnel in Taiwan and explore potential correlates. Methods: A total of 527 police officers and 338 firefighters completed the anonymous online questionnaire survey. Results: Fewer police officers (41%) had taken courses on mental disorders than firefighters (57%), and only 23% of police officers had received training in mental crisis intervention, compared to 43% of firefighters. About half of police officers and firefighters (47% and 55%, respectively) had ever contacted mental health professionals during duty. For mental illness literacy, work experience under 10 years and having a family or friend affected by a mental disorder were positive correlates for both police officers (β=1.34 and 0.67) and firefighters (β=0.99 and 0.55). Receiving training was a prominent correlate for crisis intervention confidence in firefighters (β=0.80), while work experience with mental health professionals was more salient for police officers (β=0.49). Conclusions: To enhance community-based mental health care quality, integration of mental health into police academy curricula and provision of crisis intervention and team-based service delivery training are urgently recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the symptom detection rate and stability of anxiety and sleep quality in police officers, as well as the time-related effect of anxiety on sleep quality. Methods: The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale（SAS） and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index（PSQI） were used to track the anxiety and sleep quality of 564 police officers twice for a year. SAS standard score≥50 and PSQI total score＞ 7 were the detection criteria for anxiety symptoms and sleep disorders,respectively.χ~2 test was used to compare the differences of detection rate and the proportion of people in different symptom conversion groups. Structural equation model was used to analyze the time-related effect of anxiety on sleep quality. Results: The detection rates of anxiety symptoms and sleep disorderswere higher in the police officers than in other studies（Ps ＜0.001）.The proportion of police officers with and without anxiety symptoms and sleep disorders was higher than that of the other two group swith changes before and after（Ps ＜0.05）.Baseline anxiety positively predicted baseline sleep quality index（β=0.26,P ＜0.001）,and anxiety after 1 year positively predicted sleep quality index after 1 year（β=0.19,P ＜0.001）.Baseline anxiety positively predicted the sleep quality index after 1 year（β=0.06,P ＜0.01）.Conclusion:It shows that the stability of anxiety and sleep quality in police officers is relatively higher, and there is a high correlation between anxiety and sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of anxiety and stress on false confessions among police suspects in custody. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted an ex post facto design. Participants were one hundred and nine (N 109) suspects in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department of Kaduna State Police Command, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The present study included three measurement tools to assess different constructs: The Gudjonsson Confession Questionnaire-Revised (GCQ-R) was utilized to evaluate false confession, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was employed to assess anxiety levels, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was utilized to measure perceived stress. Findings: Results revealed that state anxiety positively predicted false confession (β =0.191, p < 0.05), whereas trait anxiety has no significant effect on false confession (β=- 0.050, p > 0.05), while perceived stress positively predicted false confession (β =0.273, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that state anxiety and perceived stress contribute to a suspect's predisposition to make a false confession. It was recommended that police officers be more cognizant of when and under what conditions they use interrogation methods in view of the level of anxiety and stress the suspect might be in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Previous investigations have highlighted notable variations in cardiovascular risk indicators associated with various professional categories. However, only a few studies have examined structural and functional cardiac parameters using echocardiography within distinct occupational groups. Hence, this study endeavored to assess cardiac structural and functional parameters in three additional occupations: firefighters (FFs), police officers (POs), and office workers (OWs). This prospective study encompassed 197 male participants (97 FFs, 54 POs, and 46 OWs) from Germany. All participants underwent 2D and Doppler echocardiography in resting conditions; standard parasternal and apical axis views were employed to evaluate structural (diastolic and systolic) and functional (systolic and diastolic function, and strain) cardiac parameters. All three occupational groups exhibited a tendency towards septal hypertrophy. Notably, OWs exhibited the largest diastolic interventricular septum diameter (IVSd), at 1.33 ± 0.25 cm. IVSd significantly varied between POs and OWs (p = 0.000) and between POs and FFs (p = 0.025). Additionally, during diastole a substantially larger left ventricular posterior wall diameter (LVPWd) was observed in OWs compared to FFs (p = 0.001) and POs (p = 0.013). The left ventricular diastolic cavity diameter (LVIDd) and the left ventricular systolic cavity diameter (LVIDs) were significantly higher in POs than they were in FFs (LVIDd: p = 0.001; LVIDs: p = 0.009), and the LVIDd was notably higher in FFs (p = 0.015) and POs compared to OWs (p = 0.000). FFs exhibited significantly better diastolic function, indicated by higher diastolic peak velocity ratios (MV E/A ratio) and E/E’ ratios, compared to POs (E/A ratio: p = 0.025; E/E’ ratio: p = 0.014). No significant difference in diastolic performance was found between OWs and FFs. Significantly higher E’(lateral) values were noted in POs compared to FFs (p = 0.003) and OWs (p = 0.004). Ejection fraction did not significantly differ among FFs, POs, and OWs (p > 0.6). The left ventricular mass (LV Mass) was notably higher in POs than it was in FFs (p = 0.039) and OWs (p = 0.033). Strain parameter differences were notably improved in two- (p = 0.006) and four-chamber (p = 0.018) views for FFs compared to POs. Concentric remodeling was the predominant change observed in all three occupational groups. Significant differences in the presence of various forms of hypertrophy were observed in FFs, POs, and OWs (exact Fisher test p-values: FFs vs. OWs = 0.021, POs vs. OWs = 0.002). OWs demonstrated notably higher rates of concentric remodeling than FFs did (71.77% vs. 47.9%). This study underscores disparities in both functional and structural parameters in diverse occupational groups. Larger prospective studies are warranted to investigate and delineate differences in structural and functional cardiac parameters across occupational groups, and to discern their associated effects and risks on the cardiovascular health of these distinct professional cohorts.

Abstract Police officers often face emotionally challenging interpersonal situations and numerous studies have demonstrated that policing is a stressful occupation. A study revealed a significant positive correlation between emotional demands among police officers and emotional dissonance, as well as burnout. Health-promoting behaviors can contribute to better overall health outcomes and reduce the risk of developing health problems, but there is limited research evaluating the association of job strain and health behaviors with mental health outcomes in police officers. The objective of this study was to assess the job strain associated with mental health mediated by health behaviors in Taiwanese police officers. This was a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted in Oct 2016. A total of 41,871 police officers (response rate was 79.7%) participated questionnaire that consisted of demographic information, job characteristics, health behaviors, and mental component summary (MCS) scores of the Short-Form Health Survey. Independent t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA) were conducted to assess the differences in mean MCS scores across various demographics, health behavior, and job characteristics. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between job strain and health behaviors with mental health outcomes. MCS scores were associated with job characteristics and health behaviors among police officers except for gender. After adjusting for covariates, multivariate analysis indicated that police officers with high job demands and high job strain index exhibited poor MCS scores. Job strain was significantly associated with MCS mediated by health behaviors (consumption of fruits and vegetables, and physical activity) in Taiwanese police officers. Since regular physical activity and increased vegetable and fruit consumption might alleviate the effects of job strain on mental health status, it is recommended that institutional policies be established to promote health-enhancing behaviors among police officers.

Background: Police officers encounter various potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and may be compelled to engage in actions that contradict their moral codes. Consequently, they are at risk to develop symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but also moral stress or moral injury (MI). To date, MI in police officers has received limited attention.Objective: The present study sought to identify classes of MI appraisals and PTSD symptoms among police officers exposed to PTEs, while also investigating potential clinical differences between these classes.Method: For this study, 421 trauma-exposed police officers were assessed on demographics and several clinical measurements including MI appraisals (self-directed and other-directed), PTSD severity, and general psychopathology. Latent class and regression analyses were conducted to examine the presence of different classes among trauma-exposed police officers and class differentiation in terms of demographics, general psychopathology, PTSD severity, mistrust, guilt, self-punishment, and feelings of worthlessness.Results: The following five classes were identified: (1) a ‘Low MI, high PTSD class’ (28%), (2) a ‘High MI, low PTSD class’ (11%), (3) a ‘High MI, high PTSD class’ (17%), (4) a ‘Low MI, low PTSD class’ (16%), and (5) a ‘High MI-other, high PTSD class’ (27%). There were significant differences between the classes in terms of age, general psychopathology, PTSD severity, mistrust, guilt, and self-punishment but no differences for gender and feelings of worthlessness.Conclusion: In conclusion, we identified five classes, each exhibiting unique patterns of cognitive MI appraisals and PTSD symptoms. This underscores the criticality of measuring and identifying MI in this particular group, as it allows for tailored treatment interventions.

AbstractThis study has undertaken a comprehensive review of literature from 2019 to 2021, encompassing work/life balance review articles to identify the research gap in the work/life balance area. Employing the PRISMA framework for systematic literature review, the study identified prospective areas for future research on work/life balance and variables associated with work/life balance in the police sector. The articles published between 2013 and 2023 relating to the police force over the past decade were reviewed to frame a conceptual framework for the work/life balance of police officers. Further literature review attests that there is a research gap in the police sector. The primary goal is to identify the area (work/life balance in the police sector) that lacked research and establish a conceptual framework addressing the work/life balance of police officers, even in challenging situations like COVID-19. The articles related to police from 2013 to 2023 were scrutinised through the PRISMA framework to identify variables necessary for constructing the conceptual framework for police officers. This article, set in the post-COVID-19 era, delves into the factors influencing police officers’ capacity to uphold a healthy work–life balance. By pinpointing those research gaps, the article proposes a conceptual framework designed to help police officers balance their professional and personal lives. Such a framework can aid organisations in formulating effective strategies for employee well-being, facilitating work–life balance even in challenging circumstances, such as those imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previous investigations have highlighted notable variations in cardiovascular risk indicators associated with various professional categories. However, only a few studies have examined structural and functional cardiac parameters using echocardiography within distinct occupational groups. Hence, this study endeavored to assess cardiac structural and functional parameters in three additional occupations: firefighters (FFs), police officers (POs), and office workers (OWs). This prospective study encompassed 197 male participants (97 FFs, 54 POs, and 46 OWs) from Germany. All participants underwent 2D and Doppler echocardiography in resting conditions; standard parasternal and apical axis views were employed to evaluate structural (diastolic and systolic) and functional (systolic and diastolic function, and strain) cardiac parameters. All three occupational groups exhibited a tendency towards septal hypertrophy. Notably, OWs exhibited the largest diastolic interventricular septum diameter (IVSd), at 1.33 ± 0.25 cm. IVSd significantly varied between POs and OWs (p = 0.000) and between POs and FFs (p = 0.025). Additionally, during diastole a substantially larger left ventricular posterior wall diameter (LVPWd) was observed in OWs compared to FFs (p = 0.001) and POs (p = 0.013). The left ventricular diastolic cavity diameter (LVIDd) and the left ventricular systolic cavity diameter (LVIDs) were significantly higher in POs than they were in FFs (LVIDd: p = 0.001; LVIDs: p = 0.009), and the LVIDd was notably higher in FFs (p = 0.015) and POs compared to OWs (p = 0.000). FFs exhibited significantly better diastolic function, indicated by higher diastolic peak velocity ratios (MV E/A ratio) and E/E’ ratios, compared to POs (E/A ratio: p = 0.025; E/E’ ratio: p = 0.014). No significant difference in diastolic performance was found between OWs and FFs. Significantly higher E’(lateral) values were noted in POs compared to FFs (p = 0.003) and OWs (p = 0.004). Ejection fraction did not significantly differ among FFs, POs, and OWs (p > 0.6). The left ventricular mass (LV Mass) was notably higher in POs than it was in FFs (p = 0.039) and OWs (p = 0.033). Strain parameter differences were notably improved in two- (p = 0.006) and four-chamber (p = 0.018) views for FFs compared to POs. Concentric remodeling was the predominant change observed in all three occupational groups. Significant differences in the presence of various forms of hypertrophy were observed in FFs, POs, and OWs (exact Fisher test p-values: FFs vs. OWs = 0.021, POs vs. OWs = 0.002). OWs demonstrated notably higher rates of concentric remodeling than FFs did (71.77% vs. 47.9%). This study underscores disparities in both functional and structural parameters in diverse occupational groups. Larger prospective studies are warranted to investigate and delineate differences in structural and functional cardiac parameters across occupational groups, and to discern their associated effects and risks on the cardiovascular health of these distinct professional cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Police officers often face emotionally challenging interpersonal situations and numerous studies have demonstrated that policing is a stressful occupation. A study revealed a significant positive correlation between emotional demands among police officers and emotional dissonance, as well as burnout. Health-promoting behaviors can contribute to better overall health outcomes and reduce the risk of developing health problems, but there is limited research evaluating the association of job strain and health behaviors with mental health outcomes in police officers. The objective of this study was to assess the job strain associated with mental health mediated by health behaviors in Taiwanese police officers. This was a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted in Oct 2016. A total of 41,871 police officers (response rate was 79.7%) participated questionnaire that consisted of demographic information, job characteristics, health behaviors, and mental component summary (MCS) scores of the Short-Form Health Survey. Independent t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA) were conducted to assess the differences in mean MCS scores across various demographics, health behavior, and job characteristics. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between job strain and health behaviors with mental health outcomes. MCS scores were associated with job characteristics and health behaviors among police officers except for gender. After adjusting for covariates, multivariate analysis indicated that police officers with high job demands and high job strain index exhibited poor MCS scores. Job strain was significantly associated with MCS mediated by health behaviors (consumption of fruits and vegetables, and physical activity) in Taiwanese police officers. Since regular physical activity and increased vegetable and fruit consumption might alleviate the effects of job strain on mental health status, it is recommended that institutional policies be established to promote health-enhancing behaviors among police officers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess police officers' health beliefs about testicular cancer and their level of knowledge about testicular self-examination (TSE). Materials and Methods: The data for the study were collected from 120 volunteer police officers using a questionnaire asking for their introductory information and the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale on Testicular Cancer and Screening. Results: 84.2% of the participants were married, 14.2% had a family history of cancer, 36.7% had never heard of testicular cancer, 81.7% had never heard of TSE and 87.5% had never performed TSE. The rate of those who do not know how to perform TSE is 80.8%. While 40.8% of police officers said that a palpable mass in the testicle was a sign of testicular cancer, 51.7% said that pain in the testicle, 29.1% swelling in the testicle, 47.5% pain or tenderness in the groin, 23.3% redness in the testicle and 20% weight loss would be signs of testicular cancer. Smokers had higher perceptions of the seriousness, benefits and barriers of TSE (p=0.048, p=0.002, p=0.031, respectively). Those with a family history of cancer and those with testicular problems had higher perceptions of sensitivity (p=0.010, p=0.003, respectively). Conclusion: It was found that there was a lack of knowledge about testicular cancer and TSE among police officers. It is recommended that health training is planned to provide information and to put the acquired knowledge into practice, and that qualitative public health studies are carried out on larger samples to identify the factors that prevent the implementation of TSE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyses the possibilities of using modern technologies in the tactical and specialised training of police officers under martial law. Martial law creates emergency situations when police officers have to work in conditions of increased danger and instability. In such circumstances, the use of modern technologies in tactical and specialised training of police officers becomes extremely important in order to ensure their safety, efficiency and success in performing their tasks. The article outlines the benefits of using technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, unmanned aerial vehicles, robotic systems and artificial intelligence. Thus, the main areas of application of modern technologies in the tactical and special training of police officers are: the use of virtual reality and augmented reality to develop practical skills, in particular for training in combat operations, which ensures more effective training of police officers; the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor and obtain information about the situation on the ground without risking the lives of police officers; the use of robotic systems to perform dangerous or difficult tasks, in particular tasks of search and rescue; the use of virtual reality and augmented reality to develop practical skills, in particular for training in combat operations, which ensures more effective training of police officers; the use of virtual reality and augmented reality to develop practical skills, in particular for training in combat operations, which ensures more effective training of police officers. It is noted that the use of modern technologies can increase the effectiveness of police training, reduce the risk to their lives and improve the safety of citizens. The author concludes that the use of modern technologies is an integral part of the tactical and specialised training of police officers under martial law. Technology helps police officers to effectively counter threats, provide security and be successful in their work. The development and improvement of these technologies is an important area for improving the effectiveness of police work under martial law. The introduction of modern technologies in tactical and specialised training of police officers is an important task that will increase the effectiveness of police activities under martial law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policing is a highly demanding and stressful profession. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing stress management programs, including for police officers. The use of VR in combination with biosensors enables measurement of psychophysiological responses such as peripheral temperature (PT) and skin conductance level (SCL). This study investigated the psychophysiological responses of police officers exposed to a VR scenario simulating a car accident. The study included a total of 63 police officers from the Public Security Police. Participants were divided into three groups based on their police divisions: the Investigation Brigade of Traffic Accidents, the Traffic Surveillance Squad (TSS), and a control group from the Lisbon Metropolitan Command. The results indicated that the VR environment effectively induced psychophysiological arousal, particularly in less experienced officers (TSS), that is, there were significant group differences in mean SCL and PT, showing this group with higher SCL and lower PT during the VR exposure. These results support the potential of VR as a stress inoculation strategy for training police officers and highlight the complex nature of stress responses that are influenced by individual factors and psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High absenteeism rates are a common phenomenon in many South African organisations and which organisations are struggling to deal with. As a result, absenteeism continues to cost South African organisations and the government huge amounts of money every year despite numerous attempts by employers to reduce it. South African organisations lose about R25 billion (US1,3 billion) every year due to unplanned absenteeism. The study investigates the causes and effects of absenteeism in business operations at a selected public organisation in South Africa. A descriptive research design and quantitative research approach were used in this study. The findings of this study revealed that absenteeism is caused by poor supervision at work, financial challenges, marital challenges, substance abuse, childcare problems, and stress. The results of the study also indicated that absenteeism negatively affects individual work output, co- workers, group work, families, society, work productivity, labour cost, and morale. The article suggests that management should utilise more resources to address the causes and effects of absenteeism in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last ten years, many police organizations around the word have been approaching the implementation of cameras that can be placed on the body of a police officer. By implementing these cameras, police organizations strive to prevent and suppress crime, to improve officer safety, officers' performance and police-community relationship. In September 2023, the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs started with the pilot project of implementing body worn cameras (BWC) in two organizational units of the traffic police. The research presented in this paper was carried out before the idea of implementation of BWCs in Serbian police practice was born. The research included police officers from five organizational units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The aim of the research was to explore the views and opinions of police officers related to implementation of BWCs. Research results and the authors' conclusions may help the decision-making process related to the BWC implementation in Serbian police practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Health Sciences / İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Istanbul Gelisim Universitesi Saglik Bilimleri Yuksekokulu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to investigate the mental health of new police trainees during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Korea. Two groups of police trainees were surveyed considering the distribution of gender, age, and education level: those who joined the school before COVID-19 and those who joined during the outbreak. Mental health indicators, including insomnia, depression, and anxiety, were compared between the two groups. The prevalence of insomnia, depression, and anxiety significantly varied in the group that joined during COVID-19 compared with the group that joined before. Specifically, insomnia showed a significant change in women, with a higher rate of 2.6%. Although the prevalence of depression was initially low, it increased from 0.4% to 1.3% during the pandemic. Anxiety rates also showed notable differences, particularly among women, with a higher rate of 4.7%. The highest differences in prevalence were observed in the low-income group, with a rate of 7.7% for anxiety. The findings highlight the vulnerability of police officers to psychosocial effects during disasters such as pandemics. Disaster preparedness programs or education can be integrated into new police officer training institutions to help manage mental health changes and promote overall well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Nigeria, terrorist attacks targeting police officers and police facilities have continued to gain momentum since 2009. However, in spite of the intensity of the problem, it is yet to command tangible scholarly attention. Against this background, this study investigates the trends and patterns of terrorist attacks targeted against the police in Nigeria between 2009 and 2022. An exploratory research design was adopted, and data were principally sourced through the content analysis of a corpus of two purposively selected Nigerian national newspapers' coverage of the recorded incidents of terrorist attacks that were directed at police officers. The results showed that 455 cases of such attacks were recorded between 2009 and 2022. Incidents of terrorist attacks targeting police officers were recorded in nearly all the states of the federation, with Borno State having the largest share (42.9%). Also, the largest single share of the incidents (29.2%) happened in 2021 with the highest percentage of police fatalities (24.8%) occurring in the same year. The majority of the attacks (51.9%) occurred within police stations. Indigenous People of Biafra (32.1%) and Boko Haram (31.2%) were the terrorist groups responsible for most of the attacks on police officers. Terrorist attacks hold multiple serious deleterious consequences for the Nigeria Police Force. Thus, it is important for the law enforcement agency to develop a functional institutional framework through which police officers can be adequately exposed to professional counter-terrorism training and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Icelandic Review on Politics & Administration is the property of Institute of Public Administration & Politics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Policing is a government function responsible for maintaining public order and safety. As an institution, the police have the authority to enforce laws and provide guidance and services to the community. This study investigates the enforcement of criminal penalties for drug abuse committed by police officers. The research adopts a normative legal approach, anchoring itself in the legal framework outlined within Law Number 35 of 2009, specifically focusing on the realm of Narcotics. This research method employs a normative juridical approach, wherein the issues arising in the field are examined through legal materials discussing the abuse of narcotics. The study finds that judges impose criminal sanctions on police officers who abuse narcotics in the same way as civilians, as specified in Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the Indonesian National Police Article 29 paragraph (1). This underscores the civilian status of police officers, making it clear that they fall outside the purview of military law.

For more than forty years, Spain has been confronted with internal terrorism, of an ethno-nationalist nature, deployed by the terrorist organization ETA. Their armed struggle, which caused more than 850 fatalities, had as its objective the independence of the Basque Country, Navarre, as well as a part of the so-called French Basque Country. It was especially during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s when the police forces deployed in the so-called “Northern Zone” were exposed not only to the possibility of suffering a terrorist attack, but also to the rejection and animosity of a large part of the Basque a Navarrese population, which considered the police as an “occupation force”. This gave rise to the concept of “Northern Syndrome”, which referred, above all, to the psychological consequences that this omnipresent terror and rejection in their daily lives produced in both the police officers and their families. Based on these considerations, the objective of the present work is to analyse said psycho-pathological construct. To this end, the author of this paper has conducted a total of 25 interviews with police officers and relatives who were stationed in the Basque Country and Navarra during the so-called “years of lead”. As will be seen, practically all of the individuals interviewed affirm not only the existence of said Syndrome, but also having suffered from it during their stay in the North and, in some cases, also currently.

Musculoskeletal disorders occur frequently in industrial settings, and police officers in particular are at high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders due to the nature of their work, but research on this is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders according to the job functions of police officers. A survey was conducted, targeting active-duty police officers, and data were collected from 4268 respondents who answered all items on the questionnaire. As a control group, we used the general population dataset from the 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in Korea. The survey included general information such as gender, age, working hours, and type of work. It also investigated medical utilization, including the frequency of medical visits and hospitalizations. The assessment of musculoskeletal disorders was analyzed using pain NRS, VAS, SPADI, and ODI. The working characteristics of police officers were found to be more irregular in terms of working hours and involved a higher intensity of work activities compared with the general population. However, there was a lack of precise diagnoses and continuous treatment for these disorders. These results imply that police officers’ occupational characteristics are related to musculoskeletal disorders. Considering the direct relationship between police officers’ health and public safety, systematic evaluation and management of their musculoskeletal disorders are needed.

Police officers are routinely exposed to a variety of critical incidents and as a result are a population vulnerable to various mental health issues. However, little is known about the impacts of exposure to citizens' trauma on officers' mental health and whether officers specializing in domestic violence prevention can better cope with the stress resulting from citizens' trauma. This study aims to address these research gaps by analyzing the data collected from a sample of 734 Taiwanese police officers through an online survey. Findings indicate that cumulative exposure to citizens' trauma was positively associated with secondary traumatic stress. Though officers specializing in domestic violence prevention experienced a higher level of secondary traumatic stress than their non-specialist counterparts, their specialization did help them better manage secondary traumatic stress. This study represents the first known attempt to examine the impacts of exposure to citizens' trauma on police officers' mental health in an Asian setting; it is also groundbreaking in that it tested whether specialization in domestic violence prevention can serve as a protective factor against exposure to citizens' trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of this article for emergency service workers, such as police officers, lies in the connection between processes of government and outcomes on the street—especially the impact on the mental health of frontline police officers. Organizational responsibility for the protection and mental health of frontline personnel is vital in the stressful political and social environment in Brazil, where solidarity is essential for effective policing work and for developing and maintaining a culture of caring for one another. 'Keeping each other's back' is central in the face of high levels of violence and crime, not just in southern Brazil, but in other jurisdictions where police operate in stressful environments, which have been exacerbated by deleterious social conditions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. This article examines the relationship between perceived organizational support (POS), work-related stress and effective commitment to the organization for military police officers in southern Brazil. The findings suggest that POS has an impact on both operational and organizational stress and organizational commitment. Further, operational stress has an impact on organizational commitment. An adequate level of support is required to relieve organizational pressures, especially to minimize work-related stress and other health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]