Predicting Mental Health Quality of Life in Policing: Officers and Civilians

Abstract

Law enforcement is commonly recognized as a high-stress profession that can impact the well-being of members, with higher rates of physical and psychological conditions in members compared with the general population. Effective interventions to support the health of law enforcement members must target factors negatively impacting their well-being. The current study is intended to identify factors that negatively impact sworn (i.e. officer) and civilian members’ quality of life (QOL) and attitudes toward accessing professional psychological help. Developing an understanding of significant predictive factors and their interactions can inform interventions that target the most impactful factors. Sworn (n = 173) and civilian (n = 143) members of an Eastern Canadian regional police service responded to an online survey measuring: operational stress, organizational stress, microaggressions, public stigma, self-stigma, psychological QOL, social relationship QOL, and attitudes toward accessing professional psychological help. Correlations identified relationships between predictor and outcome variables. Stepwise regression analyses identified moderating relationships between predictor variables in predicting QOL and attitudes toward accessing professional psychological services. The identified relationships and moderating predictive relationships suggest that interventions targeting operational stress, organizational stress, and public stigma will have the greatest impact on members’ QOL and attitudes toward accessing professional psychological help. The current study provides foci for interventions and furthers the understanding of the impacts of coexisting factors on regional law enforcement members in Eastern Canada. Future research can examine the applicability of these results to other police services (e.g. federal) and examine the outcomes of targeted interventions.