Impact of Stress in the Lives of Police Officers

A Police Officer’s job is one of the most challenging and demanding jobs. It results in negative impact on the police officers’ health. Research is being conducted by the UB Researches, funded by a $1.75 million grant from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), to study the biological and psychological threats faced by the police officers due to the nature of their job.

A recent article published in HealthNewsDigest.com says “John M. Violanti, Ph.D. is principal researcher of the study, called the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study.” Out of a total target sample of 500 police officers, 400 have already participated in the test studies. The officers were asked to fill out questionnaires on their lifestyles and psychological threats. The psychological problems are depression and PSTD (post traumatic stress). Biological tests were conducted to determine the bone density and body composition. Various tests such as ultrasounds of brachial, carotid arteries, salivary cortisol samples and blood samples were taken.

Let’s look at the results from Violanti's pilot studies. Officers over age 40 had a higher 10 year risk of a Heart Diseases compared to average national standards. 72 percent of women officers and 43 percent of men officers, had higher-than-recommended cholesterol levels. Police officers, as a group, had higher-than-average pulse rates and diastolic blood pressure. In the October issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, a random psychological test was conducted on 115 selected officers and results were shocking. Suicidal thoughts were higher in women working the day shift, and in men working the afternoon/night shifts. Data showed that 23 percent of male and 25 percent of female officers reported more suicidal thoughts than the general population (13.5 percent). In a previous study, suicide rates were three times higher in police than in other municipal workers.

Comparing men & women police officers, Violanti study shows, work shifts affect the women officers & men officers differently. Surprisingly women police working during the day are more stressed. They suffer from depression and suicidal symptoms more than those working at midnight shifts. In contrast, men working at afternoon and night shifts were more prone to these psychological problems than officers working in the morning shifts. Violanti gives a reason for this behavioral difference - "It is possible that women may feel more uneasy and stressed in a day shift, where there can be more opportunity for conflict and a negative environment. On the other hand, higher suicide ideation reported by males in the midnight shift may be accounted for in part by a stronger need to be a part of the social cohesiveness associated with peers in the police organization. Working alone at night without the support of immediate backup can be stressful.” Lawrenceville criminal lawyer said that there is a need for changing the shifts of the police officers. Changing the shifts and observing the psychological patterns can be helpful.

The research clearly indicates that women police officers are under more stress than men police officers. Police force has more men than women – this gender disparity can sometimes create stress.. Police force is considered as a male dominated profession and women police feel left out. Most women have more domestic responsibilities such as family & child care.

These statistics give us additional reasons to appreciate the creditable job of police officers. We get stressed out by small family issues, office pressures and negative people around us. Think about police officers who are surrounded by criminals and violators. The threat on their lives increase the pressure from their families. They pay a price for having selected a challenging job and helping the society to be a better place to live in. A police officer's life is undoubtedly very stressful. Next time when we call 911, thank the police force that we trust more than our neighbors. Unfortunately if we get traffic tickets, before cursing cops remember they are doing a job that people do not dare to choose.