Abstract
Abstract This study examined the disintegrating effects of critical incidents (Cri) and workload (WL) on the mental health status (MHS) and private life tasks of 166 police officers. In addition, it investigated whether diminished MHS mediated the impact of Cri and WL on private life tasks. This mediation effect was based on the work–home resources model of Brummelhuis and Bakker (2012). The respondents were police officers functioning in the front line, experiencing Cri and working in urban areas. We investigated the effects on the following five private life tasks: ‘social life, maintaining mental health, household and finance, giving meaning, and maintaining positivity’. The results showed that Cri only had a negative effect on ‘maintaining positivity’. Respondents reporting more Cri had a lower MHS, which in turn had a direct effect on the functioning in all private life tasks except ‘social life’. When mediated by MHS, Cri were associated with less effective functioning in all private life tasks except for ‘social life’. Thus, the effects of Cri on functioning in private life tasks (except social life) were larger for respondents with a low MHS. The largest effects were found for ‘maintaining mental health (MMH) and maintaining positivity’. In the WL model, no significant indirect effects were found on life tasks.
Highlights
Police officers report higher stress levels than other members of the workforce and a higher rate of absenteeism (Houtman, Jettinghoff, Brenninkmeijer, & van den Berg, 2005; Tang &Hammontree, 1992)
Police officers who have been exposed to critical incidents in the line of duty were included in the study
Ee mental health status correlated with the life tasks: Maintaining mental health, Household and finance, Giving meaning and Maintaining positivity
Summary
Police officers report higher stress levels than other members of the workforce and a higher rate of absenteeism (Houtman, Jettinghoff, Brenninkmeijer, & van den Berg, 2005; Tang &Hammontree, 1992). Police officers report higher stress levels than other members of the workforce and a higher rate of absenteeism Individuals in rescue work professions (e.g., police officers, ambulance personnel, firefighters) are at greater risk for mental health problems, such as depression, PTSD, burnout and substance abuse, than individuals in other professions 2008; Austin-Ketch, T.L., Violanti, J., Fekedulegn, D., Andrew, M.E., Burchfield, C.M. Research findings by Green (2004) revealed that PTSD is four to six times more ee prevalent among police officers than in the general public. Police officers have a higher risk of developing heart problems, gastrointestinal disorders and diabetes Police ev work is generally recognized as highly demanding and high-risk
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