Association of work related chronic stressors and psychiatric symptoms in a Swiss sample of police officers : a cross sectional questionnaire study


Autoria(s): Arial Marc; Gonik Viviane; Wild Pascal; Danuser Brigitta
Data(s)

2010

Resumo

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. [Authors]

Identificador

http://serval.unil.ch/?id=serval:BIB_D52BB4411671

isbn:0340-0131

pmid:20039177

doi:10.1007/s00420-009-0500-z

isiid:000274435000009

http://my.unil.ch/serval/document/BIB_D52BB4411671.pdf

http://nbn-resolving.org/urn/resolver.pl?urn=urn:nbn:ch:serval-BIB_D52BB44116716

Idioma(s)

en

Direitos

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Fonte

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, vol. 83, no. 3, pp. 323-331

Palavras-Chave #Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Police ; Questionnaires ; Stress, Psychological ; Young Adult
Tipo

info:eu-repo/semantics/article

article