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. 2017 Nov;40(4):642-656.
doi: 10.1108/PIJPSM-06-2016-0097.

Police stressors and health: a state-of-the-art review

John M Violanti  1 , Luenda E Charles  2 , Erin McCanlies  2 , Tara A Hartley  2 , Penelope Baughman  2 , Michael E Andrew  2 , Desta Fekedulegn  2 , Claudia C Ma  2 , Anna Mnatsakanova  2 , Cecil M Burchfiel  2
Affiliations

Police stressors and health: a state-of-the-art review

John M Violanti et al. Policing. 2017 Nov.

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: Law enforcement; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Psychological health; Resilience; Traumatic events; Work schedules.

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References

    1. Alexander DA and Walker LG (1994), “A study of methods used by Scottish police officers to cope with work-induced stress”, Stress Medicine, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 131–138, doi: 10.1002/smi.2460100210. - DOI
    1. American Psychiatric Association (2013), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed., American Psychiatric Publishing, Washington, DC.
    1. Anderson GS, Litzenberger R and Plecas D (2002), “Physical evidence of police officer stress”,Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, Vol. 25 No. 2, pp. 399–420, doi: 10.1108/13639510210429437. - DOI
    1. Andrew ME, Howsare JL, Hartley TA, McCanlies EC, Burchfiel CM and Violanti JM (2014), “Protective attributes: resilience in policing”, in Violanti JM (Ed.), Dying for the Job: Police Work Exposure and Health, Charles C. Thomas Publisher Ltd, Springfield, IL, pp. 145–154.
    1. Austin-Ketch TL, Violanti JM, Fekedulegn D, Andrew ME, Burchfiel CM and Hartley TA (2012), “Addictions and the criminal justice system, what happens on the other side? Posttraumatic stress symptoms and cortisol measures in a police cohort”, Journal of Addictions Nursing, Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 22–29, doi: 10.3109/10884602.2011.645255. - DOI - PubMed

Further reading

    1. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2017), “US department of labor, Occupational outlook handbook, 2016–17 edition, police and detectives”, available at: www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm (accessed December 28, 2015).

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