HEALTH FACTORS IN POLICE JOB STRESS (FROM JOB STRESS AND THE POLICE OFFICER - IDENTIFYING STRESS REDUCTION TECHNIQUES - PROCEEDINGS OF SYMPOSIUM, 1975 BY W H KROES, AND J J HURRELL, JR - SEE NCJ-43642)

• NCJ Number: 43649
• Author(s): W C RICHARD; R D FELL
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 12 pages
• Contract Number(s): CDC-99-74-60
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Corporate Author: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: THE SYMPOSIUM WAS HELD IN CINCINNATI, OHIO ON MAY 8 & 9, 1975, AND CHAIRED BY DR WILLIAM H KROES

Annotation

INDEXES OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ILLNESS IN POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHER OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS ARE COMPARED IN A STUDY BASED ON DATA FROM DEATH CERTIFICATES, MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS, AND GENERAL HOSPITALS IN TENNESSEE.

Abstract

DEATH CERTIFICATES WERE SAMPLED TO GATHER INFORMATION ON PREMATURE DEATH AND SUICIDE RATES. A TOTAL OF 6,720 CERTIFICATES, REPRESENTING 50 PERCENT OF ALL PERSONS WHO DIED IN TENNESSEE FROM JANUARY 1972 THROUGH JUNE 1974, WAS EXAMINED. CASE FILES FOR ALL 8,528 PERSONS ATTENDING COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS DURING THE SAME PERIOD WERE EXAMINED. DATA ON MEDICAL ILLNESSES WERE OBTAINED FOR 1,867 PERSONS ADMITTED TO THREE GENERAL HOSPITALS FROM 1972 THROUGH 1974. THE DATA INDICATE THAT POLICE HAVE A SOMEWHAT GREATER INCIDENCE OF HEALTH PROBLEMS THAN DO OTHER OCCUPATIONS. POLICE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH RATES OF PREMATURE DEATH AND RANK THIRD AMONG OCCUPATIONS IN SUICIDE RATE. POLICE ARE ADMITTED TO GENERAL HOSPITALS AT A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH RATE BUT DO NOT SEEK HELP AT MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS AT ABOVE-AVERAGE RATES. POLICE OFTEN ARE ADMITTED TO GENERAL HOSPITALS WITH PROBLEMS OF THE CIRCULATORY AND DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. TABULAR DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.