Deepak Kumar*
A police personnel job is more stressful in comparison with other occupations (Goodman, 1990). With the advent of globalization, the opportunities of coming together for committing organized crimes have increased, along with international implications of crimes involving drugs, trafficking, intellectual frauds and cyber-crimes like phishing. The term “stress” was coined by Hans Selye in 1936, who defined it as “the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change”. Stress is defined as a state of mental and emotional pressure or strain, caused by challenging or unfavorable circumstances. It is an outside force that rules an individual’s feelings and behavior. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (1999) defines stress as ‘The harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, needs of the worker’. However, it has been strongly argues that the job performance of a police officer is affected when they undergo chronic stress. (McGreedy,1974). “Police stress” refers to the negative pressure related to police work. Whereas, stressor is a particular circumstance, requirement, or situation that can induce stress, a biochemical change in behavioral, physiological, and/or psychological health. Since police personnel’s are subjected to high levels of stress on everyday basis, it is important their stressors are handled efficiently. Therefore, it is important for them to use positive coping strategies and focus on improving their overall wellbeing.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
|
Author/ Year |
Variable studied |
Objectives |
Research Methodology |
Findings |
|
Bano (2011) |
Job stress |
To identify causes of stress and also empirically investigate the socio-demographic factors affecting stress level among police personnel |
Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh); 65 female police personnel; judgmental sampling technique |
Existing body of knowledge and contribute to the understanding of causes of stress and role of socio-demographic factors in affecting stress level among police personnel |
|
Naik et al. (2012) |
Personality and stress coping strategies |
To study the association of personality traits and methods for coping with psychological stress in police personnel |
Goa; 100 constables and head constables; Convenience sampling technique |
There is an association between personality traits and the level of psychological distress |
|
Shacklock et al. (2012) |
Emotional intelligence, job satisfaction, well-being and engagement in policing |
To examine the effect of emotional intelligence upon the job satisfaction, well-being and engagement of police officers |
Australia; 193 police officers; survey method |
Police officers affective commitment mediates the negative relationship between their engagement at work and their turnover intentions |
|
Chitra (2014) |
Occupational Stress |
To understand and analyze the specific stressors experienced by the police personnel of different ranks |
Mumbai; 500 police personnel; stratified random sampling technique |
Police personnel having duration of service up to 15 years experience slightly more amount of stress |
|
Maria et al. (2018) |
Physical health, burnout, depression and well-being |
To examine the relationship between work efforts and burnout among police officers |
Germany; 1787 members; survey method |
Health-oriented leadership had a negatively affect related to levels of burnout, depression, and physical complaints among police officers and is positively related to their state of well-being |
|
Park and Cho (2021) |
Physical and mental health symptoms |
To compare the stress levels and physical and mental health symptoms of patrol officers and emergency dispatch officers |
South Korea; 254 patrol officers and 177 emergency dispatch officers; random sampling technique |
Stress related to organizational management had the highest impact on physical and mental health, and differences in the stressors affecting the two group’s physical and mental health were found |
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
- To study the perception of respondents related to police stressors and mental health based on their gender, marital status, age and educational qualification.
- To study the impact of police stressors on mental health (social dysfunction, anxiety and depression and loss of confidence).
- To frame strategies to reduce stress among police personnel and improve psychological health of police personnel.
HYPOTHESES
The various hypotheses formulated are as follows:
H1: There is a significant difference in the perception of respondents related to police stressors and mental health due to their marital status.
H2: There is a significant difference in the perception of respondents related to police stressors and mental health due to their gender.
H3: There is a significant difference in the perception of respondents related to police stressors and mental health due to their age.
H4: There is a significant difference in the perception of respondents related to police stressors and mental health due to their educational qualification.
H5: Police stress significantly impacts the mental health of police personnel (social dysfunction, anxiety and depression and loss of confidence).
METHOD
Sample
- Sample Area: The area covered for collecting information regarding the study was Jammu Division.
- Sample Size: The sample size was of 45 police personnel.
- Sampling Technique: The sampling technique used in this study was cluster sampling.
Statistical Tools
The statistical tools used in this study were independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and regression analysis.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1: Marital Status-wise t-test results for Police Stressors and Mental Health
|
Construct |
Marital Status |
Mean |
Standard Deviation |
t-value |
Sig.(p) |
|
Police stressors |
Married |
2.92 |
0.24 |
0.12 |
0.79 |
|
Unmarried |
2.92 |
0.22 |
|||
|
Social dysfunction |
Married |
1.67 |
0.39 |
1.09 |
0.09 |
|
Unmarried |
1.53 |
0.24 |
|||
|
Anxiety and depression |
Married |
2.40 |
0.59 |
-0.14 |
0.15 |
|
Unmarried |
2.43 |
0.39 |
|||
|
Loss of confidence |
Married |
1.47 |
0.53 |
0.79 |
0.75 |
|
Unmarried |
1.31 |
0.60 |
Table 2: Gender-wise t-test results for Police Stressors and Mental Health
|
Construct |
Gender |
Mean |
Standard deviation |
t-value |
Sig.(p) |
|
Police stressors |
Male |
2.92 |
0.24 |
0.12 |
0.79 |
|
Female |
2.91 |
0.22 |
|||
|
Social dysfunction |
Male |
1.67 |
0.39 |
1.09 |
0.09 |
|
Female |
1.53 |
0.24 |
|||
|
Anxiety and depression |
Male |
2.40 |
0.59 |
-0.14 |
0.15 |
|
Female |
2.43 |
0.39 |
|||
|
Loss of confidence |
Male |
1.47 |
0.53 |
0.79 |
0.75 |
|
Female |
1.32 |
0.60 |
Table 3: Age wise ANOVA results for Police Stressors and Mental Health
|
Construct
|
20-30 years |
30-40 years |
40-50 years |
50-60 years |
ANOVA |
|||||
|
Mean |
S.D. |
Mean |
S.D. |
Mean |
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10.5281/zenodo.15476238