NCJ Number
213447
Date Published
2006
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This chapter reports on studies that have shown an association between a police officer's physical condition and the degree and nature of his/her psychological reactions to stressful events.
Abstract
One study reported in this chapter found that organizational interventions designed to increase officer physical fitness have decreased measured levels of stress and increased officers' feelings of well-being. Another study showed that officers over the age of 48 who maintained good physical conditioning had a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Also, a randomized controlled trial of 1,504 police officers found that those enrolled in an occupational health and fitness program improved significantly in cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, and body fat. Other studies have found that police officers enrolled in employee wellness programs had significantly less sick days than other groups. Based on these findings, the author argues that a comprehensive model of vulnerability to negative personal outcomes when a police officer is involved in a stressful event must include outcomes related to physical health outcomes and how they can be influenced by psychological factors. The chapter discusses how police officers' repetitive exposure to crises makes them susceptible to several serious and often chronic physical disorders. These disorders can increase mortality rates among police officers. Thus, it is important for police agencies to monitor officers for physical fitness and good health. 2 tables and 61 references