Impact of Job - Specific Stressors on Psychological Health of Police Personnel

Abstract

This study explores the prevalent issue of job stressors among police personnel and its significant impacts on their psychological health and overall well-being. It highlights the critical nature of the profession and the inherent stressors involved, to achieve better organizational and mental health outcomes. Since police personnel are subjected to high levels of stress on everyday basis, it is important their stressors are handled efficiently. The aim of the present study was to determine the various job-related stressors which negatively influence the performance and wellbeing of the police personnel. A sample of 45 police personnel was collected from Jammu district through cluster sampling. The police personnel ages ranged between 20 to 60 years. The statistical tools used in this study were independent sample t-test, one way ANOVA and regression analysis. The results revealed that police stressors significantly impact psychological health (social dysfunction, anxiety and depression, and loss of confidence). Implications of the study for the police personnel are discussed. Based on these results various recommendations have thus been suggested in the paper.

Keywords

Introduction

Therefore, social workers, psychologists, personnel psychologists and other mental health professional should develop and focus on intervention strategies for improving the psychological health and mental wellbeing of the police personnel. The implications also present a platform upon which organizational commitment of the police personnel could be understood and managed. Sequel to the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made:

1. The findings disclose that male police personnel are more in number as compared to the females in the police department. There is usually a misconception in the minds of the people that police job suits only males. But females can also perform this job effectively if they are properly encouraged. Therefore, the study suggests that Jammu and Kashmir Police department should also implement national level special schemes for women police personnel such as Mahila Police Volunteers scheme, Police Mitra Scheme, Samudayak Police Yojna, etc. for encouraging more female aspirants to join the department.
2. The findings reveal that there is no significant effect on the perception of respondents related to police stressors and mental health based on their marital status. Though both married and unmarried personnel think alike about police stressors and mental health, however, the police department should implement supportive programs for married personnel such as flexible work schedules, job sharing, compressed work weeks, etc.
3. As there is no significant effect on the perception of respondents related to police stressors and mental health based on their age. This means that personnel of different age groups have similar thinking regarding police stressors and mental health. Therefore, the department should implement similar strategies such as organize employee counseling sessions, stress. reduction programs, supportive work environment, etc. for all age groups but assign more strenuous tasks to younger personnel.
4. Since police stressors significantly impact mental health, it is suggested that department should implement stress management programs, assign psychologists, support the families of personnel, ensure work life balance etc.
5. Department should implement national level special schemes like Bhadratha and Arogya Bhadratha scheme, along with other schemes being implemented by the department for the welfare of police families.

CONCLUSION

Police personnel suffering from work stress experiences physical syndrome and psychological problems which in turn affects their psychological wellbeing Stress in law enforcement is difficult to measure and cannot be attributed to just one factor. In essence, police stress is a complex formula that has many different contributory factors. Most of the stressors are categorized into intra-personal, inter personal, work-related, family and if stress is neglected it effects on their mental and physical health and their family relations also adversely affected. The positive attitude and meditation will be helpful for coping the stress. Thinking in a broader perspective of life will change stress. There are many ways for managing stress, such as meditation, yoga, etc. The negative stress or distress kills the employee’s positive attitude and it turns to absent, turnover, immoral, anxiety, depression, aggressive and so on. Hence, it will be successful if it makes distress into eu-stress the healthy lifestyle as well as organizational well-being will be changed.

REFERENCE

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