Police stressors and health: a state-of-the-art review
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a state-of-the-art review on the topic of police stressors and associated health outcomes. Recent empirical research is reviewed in the areas of workplace stress, shift work, traumatic stress, and health. The authors provide a comprehensive table outlining occupational exposures and related health effects in police officers.
Design/methodology/approach
A review of recent empirical research on police stress and untoward psychological and physiological health outcomes in police officers.
Findings
The results offer a conceptual idea of the empirical associations between stressful workplace exposures and their impact on the mental and physical well-being of officers.
Research limitations/implications
A key limitation observed in prior research is the cross-sectional study design; however, this serves as a motivator for researchers to explore these associations utilizing a longitudinal study design that will help determine causality.
Originality/value
This review provides empirical evidence of both mental and physical outcomes associated with police stress and the processes involved in both. Research findings presented in this paper are based on sound psychological and medical evidence among police officers
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Contract No. 200-2003-01580. The findings and conclusions in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the NIOSH.
Citation
Violanti, J.M., Charles, L.E., McCanlies, E., Hartley, T.A., Baughman, P., Andrew, M.E., Fekedulegn, D., Ma, C.C., Mnatsakanova, A. and Burchfiel, C.M. (2017), "Police stressors and health: a state-of-the-art review", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 40 No. 4, pp. 642-656. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-06-2016-0097
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © Published 2017