Abstract
Purpose
(1) To identify work related stressors that are associated with psychiatric symptoms in a Swiss sample of policemen and (2) to develop a model for identifying officers at risk for developing mental health problems.
Method
The study design is cross sectional. A total of 354 male police officers answered a questionnaire assessing a wide spectrum of work related stressors. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the “TST questionnaire” (Langner in J Health Hum Behav 4, 269–276, 1962). Logistic regression with backward procedure was used to identify a set of variables collectively associated with high scores for psychiatric symptoms.
Results
A total of 42 (11.9%) officers had a high score for psychiatric symptoms. Nearly all potential stressors considered were significantly associated (at P < 0.05) with a high score for psychiatric symptoms. A significant model including 6 independent variables was identified: lack of support from superior and organization OR = 3.58 (1.58–8.13), self perception of bad quality work OR = 2.99 (1.35–6.59), inadequate work schedule OR = 2.84 (1.22–6.62), high mental/intellectual demand OR = 2.56 (1.12–5.86), age (in decades) OR = 1.82 (1.21–2.73), and score for physical environment complaints OR = 1.30 (1.03–1.64).
Conclusions
Most of work stressors considered are associated with psychiatric symptoms. Prevention should target the most frequent stressors with high association to symptoms. Complaints of police officers about stressors should receive proper consideration by the management of public administration. Such complaints might be the expression of psychiatric caseness requiring medical assistance. Particular attention should be given to police officers complaining about many stressors identified in this study’s multiple model.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the representatives of professional associations who promoted our study in the cantonal administration where it took place. We are grateful to police officers who took the time to answer our questionnaire. Special thanks go to C. Latty for overseeing data entry, D. Chouanière for internal review, J. De Puy and G. Leistner for editorial advice, and to Y. Randin for IT and technical support during the project. We are grateful to N. Zakher, F. Valceschini, and C. Richard for administrative support.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Arial, M., Gonik, V., Wild, P. et al. Association of work related chronic stressors and psychiatric symptoms in a Swiss sample of police officers; a cross sectional questionnaire study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 83, 323–331 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0500-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0500-z