Stress and coping among police personnel in South India

Background: Police personnel experience the highest levels of stress due to the nature and demands of work. Though many researchers have studied these variables quantitatively, there is a lack of qualitative study, particularly in India. Methods: A qualitative study has been carried out to explore the stress and coping strategies of police personnel. This study conducted in-depth interviews with ten police personnel and three focus group discussions with 22 police personnel. Results: Thematic analysis revealed five themes: family stressor, personal stressor, work stressor, and adaptive and maladaptive coping. Inability to take leave, multi-tasking, unscheduled excessive working hours, inability to spend time with the family members, and lack of basic amenities to meet personal hygiene were significant factors for their high level of stress. Conclusion: The results reinforce the need for mitigating the impact of stress by using positive coping strategies and social support resources, which could be achieved through capacity building and mental health programs.