Female Police Research Articles

Impact of organisational injustice on health and wellbeing of female police: A meta-ethnography

Abstract Background Female police officers face more bias, discriminatory treatment, and insufficient support compared to male officers, resulting in poorer health outcomes. This meta-ethnographic review investigates beyond individual responsibilities to explore the dimensions of policing, and their effects on the health and well-being of female police officers. Methods The study reviewed qualitative and mixed-method studies (2000-2022) on the health and well-being of female police officers. Ten databases were searched using keywords related to health, well-being, women, police, and qualitative study. Twenty-one papers were synthesised, analysed, and interpreted using a seven-phase inductive and interpretative meta-ethnographic approach. Results The data analysis unveiled a distinct outcome, indicating a strong correlation and significant impact of organisational injustice on the health and well-being of women in law enforcement. Our research findings imply that organisational injustice, including procedural, relational, distributive, and gendered injustice, notably affects the health and well-being of female officers, with mental health being frequently cited, followed by effects on social, workplace, and physical health. Furthermore, the consequences of these four types of organisational injustice, alongside related cultural, systemic, and structural risk factors, reach beyond the immediate health and well-being of individual female officers. They also hinder various aspects of their professional lives, such as career advancement and maintaining a healthy work-life balance, potentially exacerbating long-term health and well-being issues. Conclusions This review emphasizes addressing organisational injustice and related cultural, systemic, and structural determinants in policing for healthier work environments for female officers. Policy makers must scrutinize gender-neutral policies affecting women, enabling transformative action for safer, supportive, and healthier workplaces. Key messages • Organisational injustice in various forms, significantly impact health and wellbeing of female police officers, necessitating policy reforms. • Addressing organisational injustice embedded in seemingly gender-neutral policies and practices, is vital for ensuring equitable treatment and health promotion of female police officers.

Multidimensional assessment and analysis of the mental health of teachers and police officers

Abstract Background The years-long COVID-19 pandemic, the proximity of the Russian-Ukrainian war, high inflation, and the economic recession are significant stressors for the Hungarian people. Numerous domestic and international surveys are prepared every year, in which the most stressful professions are ranked. In recent years, based on Hungarian, American and European surveys, teachers and police officers have always been included in the 10 most stressful jobs. They also rank the most valued jobs and highest paid jobs every year. In this relation, police and teaching jobs never made it into the top 10, despite the fact that both professions are very important on a social level. Methods 20 male and 20 female teachers and police officers completed a complex quality of life and psychological assessment using international tests with ethics approval. We measured pain syndromes, such as headache, neck and back pain, joint pain, assessed depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Results For police officers and teachers, gender differences were not verified with regard to any parameter. None of the parameters differed significantly for male police officers and teachers. Many significant differences were confirmed between female police officers and female teachers, in all of them the results of the teachers were worse: depression (9,4±10,3 vs 2,9±4,3; p = 0.02) anxiety(43,3±12,2 vs 33±4,6; p = 0.01), sleep disorders(32,7±8,2 vs 24,3±7,8; p = 0.01), gastrointestinal complaints(24,7±9,4 vs 17,6±2,3; p = 0.01). Conclusions The sleep quality, depression and anxiety levels of female teachers are worse than those of female police officers who live at least as stressful a life. There is no difference between the mental and psychological state of male teachers and police officers. It is important to pay attention to the mental support of female teachers. Key messages • We consider the assessment of the mental state of police officers and teachers and the creation of primary prevention programs and a mental support network to be an important public health task. • In particular, the mental state of female teachers should be monitored and supported.

Impact of motherhood and social support on the wellbeing of UK female police officers and staff

Abstract Background Female officers and staff face gender-specific challenges, particularly, during pregnancy and motherhood. Our study explores whether and how motherhood affects mental health outcomes (e.g., probable depression and anxiety) and return to work following sickness absence (SA), considering mediating role of workplace social support. Methods Logistic regression analysed probable depression and anxiety using Airwave Health Monitoring Study (AHMS) data. Cox proportional hazards models assessed return to work after sickness absence, linking AHMS with sickness absence data from 26 police forces. Exposure variables were created by the interaction of motherhood status and social support, while covariates included sociodemographic, lifestyle, and work-related factors. Results Mothers with low social support from superiors had higher odds of probable depression (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.81-2.54) and anxiety (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.62-2.14) compared to non-mothers. Moderate and high social support reduced odds of depression (Moderate: OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.85-1.11; High: OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.57-0.73) and anxiety (Moderate: OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.12-1.36; High: OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.75-0.9) for mothers, but the impact varied when adjusted for covariates. Mothers with lower levels of social support were less likely to return to work after SA compared to non-mothers, as indicated by the survival analysis (Low social support: HR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.95-1.13; High social support: HR = 1, 95% CI = 0.96-1.04). These trends persisted across social support sources-colleagues and combined support-emphasising the complex interplay between workplace social support, motherhood, mental health, and sickness absence in policing. Conclusions Our study emphasises boosting workplace social support for female police officers and staff, to aid them in navigating motherhood demands. This improvement can lead to better mental health, retention, job satisfaction, and organisational effectiveness, ultimately promoting community safety. Key messages • Highlighting the importance of workplace social support for female police officers and staff, informs policy makers and practitioners to prioritize social support initiatives within policing. • Lower social support was associated with a reduced likelihood of returning to work after sickness absence, particularly among mothers compared to non-mothers.

Women police leaders: attitudes about policing and experiences in the occupation

PurposeThis study explored women police leaders’ (n = 503) attitudes and experiences relative to men police leaders (n = 3,359) and women police officers (n = 1,153) with no supervisory responsibilities.Design/methodology/approachSelf-reported survey data were collected from 5,015 officers in 85 United States law enforcement agencies.FindingsCompared with men police leaders, women police leaders were more likely to identify inequalities in the workplace, empower community members’ voices in defining legitimate forms of policing, elevate the importance of police misconduct and reject a tough physical approach. Women police leaders were also more likely than male police leaders to think that effective leadership influences the behavior of subordinates and more likely to feel that the rules leave room for interpretation. Black women police leaders reported different attitudes and experiences than White women police leaders, including recognizing greater inequalities, prioritizing increased law enforcement activities and experiencing less occupational burnout. Except for the seriousness of misconduct, there were no differences between women police leaders and women police officers without supervisory responsibilities.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the ongoing conversation about women in policing and how increasing the number of women in leadership roles affects law enforcement agencies and the public’s experiences with policing. As policing continues to face calls for reform and employment challenges, increasing the number of women in leadership plays a vital role in producing law enforcement agencies that are equitable and efficacious.

Status of Women Police in India: An Analytical Study of Uttar Pradesh State Police

Despite a number of efforts by the Government to increase the representation of women in police, it has continued to be relatively sluggish. The Government's data shows that there were a total of 2,17,026 women in police forces, which made up 10.5 percent of the entire police force in the country. Very few women police are recruited for leadership positions. The reasons behind the lesser representation of women police in the police department include the working conditions, societal status of women, recruitment rules, retention and promotion discrimination, inadequate infrastructure, and the police image in society etc. Article 355 of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of India mandates the Union to safeguard each State from both internal and external disturbances. The responsibility for public order crimes and law enforcement falls under the State's jurisdiction, as designated by Article 246 of the Constitution. Therefore, each State has to establish a police force capable of enforcing laws, maintaining public order, and ensuring the safety of its citizens. The United Nations report underscores the importance of women in the police force, noting that the current ratio of 137 police per lakh population falls short of the required 181 police per lakh population. The United Nations recommends a ratio of 222 police per lakh population, a goal that we are currently far from achieving. The present paper provides police data along with the strength of the women police in India. This also highlights the various committees' recommendations for women's policing and the development of the police force through equality and quality of women working in the police system. Some crucial suggestions and recommendations have been provided to increase the recruitment of women in police organisations.

Understanding the interplay between organisational injustice and the health and wellbeing of female police officers: a meta-ethnography

BackgroundFemale police officers are reported to encounter more bias, discriminatory practices, and inadequate support than their male counterparts and experience poorer health outcomes. This meta-ethnographic review looks beyond individual responsibilities to consider which aspects of policing impact the health and well-being of female police officers.MethodsPrimary qualitative and mixed method studies published between 2000 and 2024 were included. ProQuest (all databases) and Ovid (Medline and Embase) were searched using terms related to health, wellbeing, females, police, and qualitative research. This was a cross-jurisdictional review, with no limit on country of study. In total, twenty-one papers met the inclusion criteria. A seven-phase inductive and interpretative meta-ethnographic technique was employed to synthesise, analyse, and interpret the data.ResultsThe data analysis revealed a distinct outcome that demonstrated a strong relationship and substantial impacts of organisational injustice on the health and well-being of female police officers. Our findings showed that organisational injustice, encompassing procedural, relational, distributive, and gendered injustice, significantly influences the health and well-being of female officers. Impacts on mental health were commonly discussed, followed by aspects influencing social health, workplace wellbeing, and physical health. Moreover, the effects of these four forms of organisational injustice and the associated cultural, systemic, and structural risk factors extend beyond the immediate health and wellbeing impacts on the individual female officer through impeding other aspects of their work life, such as career progression and work-life balance, that can further impact long-term health and well-being.ConclusionThis review highlights the importance of addressing organisational injustice and the cultural, systemic, and structural risk factors within policing to promote healthier and more inclusive workforces for female officers. Policymakers and practitioners should critically examine policies and practices that may appear gender neutral but disproportionately impact women, affecting the health and well-being of female police officers. By addressing these issues, transformative action can be taken to create safer, more supportive, and healthier working environments for female police officers.

Stress experiences of women in policing: A scoping review

Policewomen can be significantly impacted by stress, resulting in mental health challenges. Although numerous studies have explored experiences among women in policing, few have focused on the stress that can accompany these experiences and their impacts. We conducted a scoping review of stress among policewomen to explore and summarize the current breadth of research in this area and identify potential knowledge gaps and opportunities for further study. Ten databases were searched to identify relevant literature. Manual searches of reference lists and book chapters were also completed. Twenty-five peer-reviewed articles, one book chapter, one thesis, and one dissertation were included in the current review. An inductive thematic analysis was completed, and six categories relating to policewomen's workplace stress experiences and their impacts were identified. The categories included gendered institutions, gender identity and gendered roles in policing, sexual harassment and discriminatory experiences, organizational relationships between gender, career progression and promotion, policewomen and parenting, organizational change, and stressors and associated health effects for women police officers. Although the experiences were thoroughly described, their connection to stress and the effects on mental health were not. Robust research into the overall impacts of workplace stress on policewomen's mental health is needed, including exploring generative mechanisms capable of producing the stress experiences and resulting mental health challenges to develop appropriate policies, practices, and interventions.

Effect of core strengthening and dynamic hip mobility exercises on non-specific low back pain in female police officers

Background: Non-specific lower back pain (NSLBP) is prevalent among female police officers, influenced by genetic factors, aging, and occupational risks such as heavy lifting. This study evaluates a 6-week program combining core strengthening and hip mobility exercises to alleviate NSLBP. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of core strengthening and dynamic hip mobility exercises in reducing NSLBP among female officers. Methods and Material: The study involved 40 female officers aged 25-55 with NSLBP lasting at least 6 weeks using simple random sampling technique. Participants were randomly assigned to Group A (control) or Group B (experimental). Group B underwent a 6-week core strengthening and hip mobility exercise regimen, with pain intensity (NPRS) and low back disability (ODI) measured before and after. Results: Group B exhibited significantly lower pain intensity (3.5 ± 1.147 vs 7.3 ± 0.9234) and reduced low back disability (13.6 ± 2.909 vs 28.65 ± 2.207) compared to Group A. Conclusions: The study revealed that among female officers with NSLBP, core strengthening and hip mobility exercises proved more effective than traditional exercises in alleviating pain and reducing low back instability

Empowering justice: female police officers’ perspectives on advocating for female victims in South Korea

ABSTRACT We conducted qualitative research in South Korea by interviewing female police officers to gain insight into the processes of female representation. The findings show that female officers generally accept representative roles for female victims. Still, such determination can manifest through various behaviours, which may not always translate into tangible law enforcement outcomes. Additionally, the male-dominant culture in police organizations may not directly affect female officers’ advocacy but may reduce their work morale, indirectly impacting their advocacy behaviour. We emphasize that the concept of active representation is not fixed, and various contextual factors can influence it.

Not Just a Numbers Game: Assessing the Journey of Women in Policing from Representation to Inclusion

AbstractA focus on improvements to the recruitment rates of women in policing in England and Wales simplifies the issue of organisational integration and hides the complex task of addressing the structural and cultural gendered inequalities running throughout the service. This article considers the structural barriers to women's progression within the police service and presents a cultural analysis of the impact of this environment on women's organisational inclusion. It concludes by suggesting that a different style of policing, one which prioritises fairness and compassion, might have a positive impact on all of those serving as police officers in England and Wales.

A Study on the Relationship between Personality Factors and Organizational Commitment among Male and Female Police Officers

A Study on the Relationship between Personality Factors and Organizational Commitment among Male and Female Police Officers

Minorities in the Police Academy: Career Expectations of Female Police Cadets

This study investigates the career expectations of female police cadets within the specific framework of the Chinese police academy system. Focused on their self-perceptions, this research aims to fill a gap in the literature concerning the experiences of female cadets during their training phase. Employing a qualitative approach, the study conducted focus group discussions with 56 female police cadets from diverse specializations and geographic regions. The findings indicate that, despite being a minority within the police academy, female cadets generally respond positively to the training and management strategies. The study reveals a notable shift in identity, with female cadets prioritizing their “police” identity over gender considerations. Additionally, concerns about career placement, competition, and societal expectations emerged, influencing their outlooks on future employment. This research contributes valuable insights into the complex interplay of gender dynamics and career expectations within the police academy context. The methodology and findings offer a foundation for further exploration of gender-related issues in law enforcement education, with implications extending beyond the borders of China.

Female police officers make the same snap decisions as males-but trust themselves less

Female police officers make the same snap decisions as males-but trust themselves less

Care for both victim-survivors and police investigators of rape and serious sexual offences in England and Wales

‘Care’ in a policing context naturally focuses on supporting victim-survivors. The aim of this article is to consider care for police officers who have regular exposure to rape and serious sexual offences cases and officer gender roles. We consider the care provided to (predominantly) female victim-survivors of rape and serious sexual offences by both male and female police officers and differences by gender in how officers support their own wellbeing. The overall findings, based on a cross-sectional survey, interviews and focus groups in five police forces in England and Wales, suggest that officers’ perceptions of their ability to cope and wellbeing are affected differently by gender. The quantitative findings suggest that rape and serious sexual offences officers have high levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and burnout, but female officers are better at prioritising wellbeing than their male counterparts. This research recommends equipping officers through specialist rape and serious sexual offences training that recognises ‘care’ as a necessary component of policing.

Prevalence of work-related burnout and associated factors among police officers in central Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023.

Work-related burnout is a state of physical and psychological fatigue and exhaustion resulting from chronic workplace stress related to work. The police workforce is vulnerable to this psychosocial hazard, which affects service delivery by police workers. However, there is little evidence about the prevalence of work-related burnout and associated factors among police officers in Ethiopia. Therefore, this research investigated the prevalence and predictor variables of work-related burnout among police officers in central Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023. An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out from April 12 to May 12, 2023. A sample of 633 police officers was recruited through multistage random sampling techniques. To measure work-related burnout, a standardized, self-administered Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was used. To enter the collected data, EpiData V 4.6 and to analyze SPSS V 26 were used. To examine the association between work-related burnout and its predictor variables, both bivariable (p < 0.2) and multivariable (<0.05) logistic regression analyses were performed, and statistical significance was established via multivariable logistic regression. The response rate in this study was 96.05% (n = 608). The majority, 452 (74.3%) of the police officers, were male; the median (IQR) age of participants was 28. In the past six months, 45.7% of the police officers had experienced work-related burnout (n = 278). Being female, having a high job demand, having a high level of organizational police stress, having a moderate level of operational police stress, having a high level of operational police stress, experiencing job dissatisfaction, and sleeping troubles were risk factors significantly related to the occurrence of work-related burnout among police officers. According to this study, a significant number of police officers suffer from burnout due to their work. Police officers' work-related burnout was found to be influenced by factors such as sex, job demands, job satisfaction, workplace stress, organizational police stress, and sleeping troubles. To address this problem, improving the handling of work pressure, developing a stress management program, finding joy at work by improving interpersonal relationships and working conditions, offering support and inspiration to female police officers, and ensuring sufficient and restful sleep are advised.

Effects of a single-day pre-academy physical test training session on physical fitness scores of police candidates.

Concerns are sometimes raised by police applicants undertaking physical fitness testing that they were unfamiliar with the test requirements which in turn negatively impacted their performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a single day physical test training session on physical fitness scores of police candidates. The sample consisted of female police candidates (n = 133) who attended a pre-academy training session. On the first day of pre-training, candidates' physical fitness was measured following official assessment day protocols. Measures included maximal handgrip strength, number of push-ups in 10 sec (PU), number of sit-ups in 30 sec (SU), standing long jump (SLJ), Abalakow jump test (AJ), 12 min Cooper running test (CT), and a motor educability test (ME). After the assessment, the overseeing UCIPS staff provided a detailed test skills briefing to candidates (e.g., common mistakes made during testing, how test performance could be improved, etc.). Immediately after the briefing, candidates performed the tests once again. Differences between results were measured using a paired samples t-test with significance set at 0.05. Paired sample t-tests determined significant (p < 0.001), large (Rank-Biserial Correlation = 1.00), improvements in physical fitness scores during the second assessment following familiarisation and feedback on test performance. Pre-academy training may be effective in improving candidates' physical fitness scores, in most tests, prior to the official assessment for the enrolment to police studies. Thus, to optimise initial candidate scores and opportunities for successful enlistment, police agencies may benefit from providing pre-assessment training.

Female Police Officers’ Cultural Perceptions of the External Work Environment

Many scholars have detailed the exclusion of female police officers from the traditional masculine occupational culture that endorses a detached suspicion of the public as a result of the inherent dangers of the street. Relatively few studies have directly examined how female officers perceive or respond to facets of this external (community) working environment. The present study uses survey data from officers in a large, urban police department to test for gender differences in two aspects of the external environment that are core to police cultural attitudes: perceptions of danger and suspiciousness toward civilians. Findings show that female officers perceive more danger and are more suspicious of civilians than their male colleagues do, though the differences are modest in magnitude. Implications for research and policy are discussed.

경찰공무원의 워라벨에 미치는 영향요인에 관한 연구

Police officials provide security services to the public, have an organizational structure of hierarchy and hierarchy, and enforce the law, so the intensity of their work is relatively high compared to other organizations. Recently, our society places importance on ‘work-life balance’, which pursues work-life balance. The purpose of this study is to determine what factors influence work-life balance due to the nature of work in police organizations. Accordingly, this study used secondary data from the 2021 survey on the work and life of female civil servants in the Jeju region conducted by the Jeju Women and Family Research Institute. Factors influencing work-life balance were selected as promotion factors, work factors, education and training factors, and work awareness factors by reviewing domestic and international previous studies. In addition, this study compared female police officers and married women police officers to identify factors affecting work-life balance. This study attempted to achieve the purpose of the study through descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis using the SPSS 21.0 program. As a result of the study, work factors and promotion factors were found to be factors affecting the work-life balance of married women police officers, and only work factors were found to have an effect on the work-life balance of female police officers. Based on these research results, we would like to make policy recommendations regarding the work-life balance of police officers.

Shiftwork and pregnancy loss among police officers: a preliminary investigation

PurposePolicing requires atypical work hours. The present study examined associations between shiftwork and pregnancy loss among female police officers.Design/methodology/approachParticipants were 91 female officers with a prior history of at least one pregnancy. Shiftwork information was assessed using daily electronic payroll work records. Any prior pregnancy loss (due to miscarriage) was self-reported. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for main associations.FindingsOn average, the officers were 42 years old, had 14 years of service, and 56% reported a prior pregnancy loss. Officers who worked dominantly on the afternoon or night shift during their career had 96% greater odds of pregnancy loss compared to those on day shift (OR = 1.96, 95% CI:0.71–5.42), but the result was not statistically significant. A 25% increase in percent of hours worked on night shift was associated with 87% increased odds of pregnancy loss (OR = 1.87, 95% CI:1.01–3.47). Associations were adjusted for demographic and lifestyle factors. Objective assessment of shiftwork via electronic records strengthened the study. Limitations include small sample size, cross-sectional design and lack of details on pregnancy loss or the timing of pregnancy loss with regard to shiftwork.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study is preliminary and cross-sectional.Practical implicationsWith considerable further inquiry and findings into this topic, results may have an impact on police policy affecting shift work and pregnant police officers.Social implicationsImplication on the health and welfare of police officers.Originality/value To our knowledge, there are no empirical studies which associate shiftwork and pregnancy loss among police officers. This preliminary study suggested an association between shiftwork and increased odds of pregnancy loss and points out the need for further study.

Positionality, Gender and Reflexivity in Outsider-Insider Research

This article examines the intricacies of researcher positionality in a study examining women in policing in China. It aims to shed light on the manifold ways in which researcher positionality – the researcher’s relationship with the participants, gender and other identities – impacts the research process. The study draws from my own experiences, as a female researcher and former insider, engaging in qualitative interviews with both female and male police officers in the context of a feminist inquiry into women in Chinese policing. This article explores the advantages and challenges of outsider-insider research, dissects the role of gender in shaping the research landscape and probes how the researcher’s myriad identities may influence research access, information gathering, data analysis, findings and conclusions. Moreover, it discusses strategies adopted to overcome research barriers. By presenting this outsider-insider research as a case study, the article underscores the vital role of researcher reflexivity in unearthing the truth regarding women’s experiences and upholding academic rigour. It not only advocates for the use of qualitative interviewing as a tool for knowledge production, but also makes important contributes to the fields of feminist research and qualitative inquiry. In addition, it offers compelling narratives of women within Chinese law enforcement, thereby enriching the discourse on gender policing studies.