High Job Demands Research Articles

Burnout: a comprehensive review

AbstractBurnout has been the focus of extensive scientific research. The World Health Organization officially recognized burnout as an occupational phenomenon, defined as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that remains unmanaged and characterized by three dimensions: exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy. Existing literature highlights limitations in current measurement instruments for diagnostic purposes. These tools often yield scores that overlap with other conditions such as fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Chronic exposure to high job demands and low job resources emerges as the primary trigger for burnout. While individual characteristics (such as neuroticism) may increase susceptibility, specific personality traits associated with higher risk remain unclear. Burnout has adverse effects on both individuals and organizations. Typical interventions focus on stress relief and coping strategies to manage high job demands, but their effectiveness diminishes over time. Evidence from organizational interventions suggests that improving employees’ working conditions can reduce burnout risk. Combined interventions offer promise by creating a healthy work environment while empowering employees to handle occasional stress. Social partners should advocate for support in researching burnout, aiming for a clear diagnosis, effective treatment, and preventive measures to mitigate psychosocial risks in the workplace.Practical Relevance: The findings of this article highlight the importance of addressing both job demands and job resources to mitigate burnout in organizational settings. Implementing interventions that improve working conditions and provide adequate support can significantly reduce burnout risk and enhance employee well-being. Organizations should prioritize creating a healthy work environment and empowering employees with the necessary resources to manage workload effectively.

The Impact of Employee Engagement on Organizational Performance: An Analysis of Key Psychological Traits and Business Outcomes

This research investigates employee engagement across various organizations to identify key factors influencing it, methods of measurement, and its impact on organizational performance. Data was collected from 300 employees representing diverse industries, including technology, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and education in around Pondicherry. The study focuses on critical factors such as leadership, organizational culture, recognition, and work-life balance. A strong correlation was found between high engagement levels and positive organizational outcomes, such as increased productivity, reduced turnover, enhanced job satisfaction, and improved employee retention. Quantitative data will be analyzed using SPSS and AMOS for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), employing descriptive and inferential statistics to assess relationships between variables. Additionally, the study highlights sector-specific challenges in maintaining employee engagement, especially in industries with high job demands or budget constraints. The findings suggest practical strategies for enhancing engagement, such as fostering supportive leadership, offering career development opportunities, and promoting flexible work arrangements. The paper concludes with recommendations for refining measurement approaches and suggests avenues for future research on sustaining long-term engagement in evolving work environments.

The Role of Leadership Styles, Work-Life Balance and The Physical Environment in Promoting Psychological Well-Being: A Job Demands-Resources Perspective

This conceptual paper explores the impact of leadership styles, work-life balance, and the physical environment on psychological well-being using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model as the theoretical framework. In the contemporary workplace, evolving job demands, rising expectations for mental health support, and persistent stressors like job insecurity have increased the need for organizations to prioritize employee well-being. Leadership is identified as a critical mediating variable that enhances or mitigates the effectiveness of job resources, such as work-life balance and physical environment, in promoting psychological well-being. Transformational and servant leadership styles are emphasized for their role in fostering supportive work environments that buffer the negative effects of high job demands. Additionally, the paper underscores how well-designed workspaces and balanced work-life integration can significantly enhance employee well-being, contributing to higher engagement and performance. The JD-R model provides a robust lens through which the interactions between job demands, resources, and leadership can be examined. This framework offers organizations practical strategies to safeguard employee psychological well-being by fostering leadership that advocates for flexible work arrangements and supportive physical environments. Future research should empirically validate the proposed relationships to further refine the role of leadership in promoting employee well-being.

Relationship Between Job Satisfaction and Various Factors of the Job Demand-Control-Support Model Among Iranian Nurses: Structural Equation Modeling Modeling Study

Background: Stress at work is a significant occupational risk that diminishes performance and job satisfaction. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the relationship between job satisfaction and various factors of the job demand-control-support (JDCS) model among 840 nurses working in public hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Methods: The Job Content Questionnaire and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire were utilized to assess various aspects of the JDCS model and job satisfaction, respectively. The structural equation model (SEM) was employed to explore the relationships between variables. A significance level of P < 0.05 was considered. Results: The findings revealed that the highest average scores were for skill discretion (30.92 ± 10.34) and decision authority (30.82 ± 6.91), while the lowest mean scores were related to social support (21.37 ± 7.60) and job insecurity (7.78 ± 1.49), indicating high levels of job stress among participants. The study identified direct and positive relationships between demand and control (r = 0.58, P = 0.021), control and support (r = 0.51, P = 0.032), and demand and support (r = 0.87, P = 0.009). Social support had a positive influence on job satisfaction (standardized = 0.75, P = 0.008) and a negative effect on job insecurity (standardized = -0.56, P = 0.009). Control negatively impacted job insecurity (standardized = -0.1, P = 0.02) and positively affected job satisfaction (standardized = 0.012, P = 0.012). Additionally, "job insecurity" moderated the effect of "control" on "job satisfaction" (standardized = 0.02, P = 0.005). Conclusions: Higher job demands and control contribute to increased dissatisfaction and insecurity among nurses. Conversely, nurses who receive more social support feel more secure and satisfied. To enhance job satisfaction and reduce insecurity, efforts should focus on increasing support and managing control and demand, as these factors significantly influence job performance and satisfaction.

Can the stress be managed? Stress mindset as a mitigating factor in the influence of job demands on burnout.

Despite the serious consequences of exposure to high job demands for nursing staff, few studies have identified pathways that could reduce the influence of high job demands on burnout. The current study aimed to exaime whether a stress mindset mitigates the positive relationship between job demands and burnout. A cross-sectional survey was adopted and data were collected employing self-report questionnaires. A convenience sample of 676 nurses recruited from six regional hospitals in China were invited to complete a demographic questionnaire, the Psychological Job Demand Scale, the Stress Mindset Scale and the Burnout Scale. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis and simple slope analysis were used to examine the moderating role of stress mindset. Higher job demands were positively linked to burnout, and stress mindset was negatively linked to burnout. Stress mindset moderated the positive relationship between job demands and burnout. Specifically, compared to nurses with a stress-is-debilitating mindset, the relationship will be smaller for nurses holding a stress-is-enhancing mindset. Based on these findings, nursing leaders should foster nurses' stress-is-enhancing mindset, which can ameliorate the adverse effect of job demands.

Trait authenticity as an “enzyme” for personal resources and work engagement: A study among teachers within the framework of the job demands-resources model

IntroductionTrait authenticity has been defined as a dispositional individual difference, and it refers to people's experience of living in accordance with their true Self. Despite research conducted in working contexts has found that trait authenticity is related to people's work engagement, it is not clear if this association may be mediated by other variables. ObjectiveFraming trait authenticity within the job demands-resources model, we hypothesized that trait authenticity allows the release of human full potential in terms of personal resources that, in turn, promote work engagement, especially in highly challenging work settings, such as educational ones. MethodWe administered a self-report questionnaire composed of several measurement scales to 446 teachers working in kindergartens, primary schools, and middle schools. Results and conclusionsA moderated mediation analysis revealed that trait authenticity can promote teachers’ emergence of personal resources, which in turn enhances their work engagement. The study highlights that the role of trait authenticity and personal resources on work engagement acquires a particular salience when teachers face high (vs. low) challenge job demands (i.e., workload), that is when this reservoir of potential is needed the most.

Short Mindfulness Meditations During Breaks and After Work in Everyday Nursing Care: A Simple Strategy for Promoting Daily Recovery, Mood, and Attention?

Nurses experience high job demands, which makes recovery particularly necessary to maintain well-being and performance. However, these demands also make recovery challenging. Short mindfulness meditations could potentially help alleviate this paradox. Two ecological momentary intervention studies were conducted among geriatric nurses (Study 1: break study) and hospital nurses (Study 2: after-work study) to investigate whether short audio-guided mindfulness meditations are beneficial for recovery during breaks and psychological detachment after work. Furthermore, break recovery and after-work detachment were examined as mediators of the associations between mindfulness meditations and after-break/after-sleep mood and attention after respective recovery periods. Multilevel path models were based on a sample of 38 nurses and 208 after-break surveys in the break study and 26 nurses and 192 after-sleep surveys in the after-work study. Compared to breaks spent as usual, breaks that incorporated short mindfulness meditations were associated with higher break recovery, which mediated the positive associations between mindful breaks and after-break calmness, valence, and energetic arousal. Only with certain constraints did mindfulness meditations predict a lower rate of attention failures. In the after-work study, short mindfulness meditations were positively related to psychological detachment, which mediated the positive associations between the intervention and after-sleep valence and calmness. Both pilot studies showed that short mindfulness meditations aid in recovery among nurses. However, to fully utilize the advantages of recovery-promoting breaks, structural changes are necessary to ensure that breaks of an appropriate duration are consistently implemented.

THE ROLE OF MENTAL WORKLOAD, ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT, COMPETENCE, KNOWLEDGE SHARING, AND WORK ENGAGEMENT ON CIVIL SERVANTS’ PERFORMANCE

The combination of high job demands and low resources increases stress among employees, therefore organizations must ensure an appropriate workload. High job demands can be alleviated by maximizing job resources by recruiting competent, emotionally committed employees who are willing to share knowledge within the organization. This current study aims to examine the direct effects and the mediating role of work engagement on employee performance. The variables in this study were assessed through the utilization of adapted instruments, namely the Three Component Model (TCM) questionnaire for employee commitment, competencies adapted from occupational expertise and self-competence instruments, the UTRECHT Work Engagement Scale (UWES) questionnaire for work engagement, NASA TLX for mental workload, and Performance Instrument for employee performance. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving civil servants (ASN) in Tasikmalaya with a total of 243 respondents (Male = 51.4%, Female = 48.6%). Descriptive data analysis was conducted using Stata/MP 17.0, while hypothesis testing employed Structural Equation Modeling Partial Least Squares (SEMPLS). The findings indicate that most research hypotheses are accepted,particularly the influence of competence and commitment on work engagement, which validates previous research findings. Only commitment and mental workload do not have direct effects on performance. These findings serve as a reference for Human Resource Management (HRM) practitioners to develop human resources through training and development initiatives,thereby enhancing work engagement and subsequently improving employee performance productivity.

The level of burnout and cognitive stress in managers when teleworking: the impact of psychosocial safety climate and the mediating role of demand-control-support

PurposeThe current research investigates the managers' perception of teleworking and attempts to understand how the psychosocial safety climate and psychosocial job characteristics affect their levels of burnout and cognitive stress levels while teleworking.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a survey, collecting data via questionnaires from five distinct organizations. N = 161 responses from managers were analyzed using the confirmatory factor analysis and regression analysis.FindingsThe findings show that managers who telework do not experience numerous psychosocial stressors. This means that they experience less burnout and cognitive stress. However, results also show that managers benefit from working in an environment with a high psychosocial safety climate.Practical implicationsOur study highlights the need to address managers' working conditions and well-being in telework, given their unique challenges, by fostering a supportive psychosocial climate and providing resources to mitigate stress and burnout.Originality/valuePrevious studies have thoroughly examined the dynamics of telework employees, including the challenges they face and the strategies their immediate supervisors employ to foster a positive remote work environment. Such research has illuminated various stressors that these individuals may confront while teleworking. Despite this, scant attention has been paid to the experiences of managers themselves when they operate from home. The concept of psychosocial safety climate becomes crucial when considering managers grappling with high job demands, low control, and insufficient support from their own superiors and peers. This gap has prompted the present study to explore the unique experiences of managers in a teleworking context, particularly concerning cognitive stress and burnout.

There and back again: dynamics of temporary labor migration, insights from rural India.

Temporary labor migration is a household phenomenon among rural communities in India. This study seeks to understand the subjective experiences influencing the temporariness of labor migration among internal migrants in India by examining various factors such as migration conditions, motivation, migration arrangements, coping and adaptation strategies, and determinants of stay. To achieve this objective, the current qualitative study utilized 14 in-depth interviews and 2 focus group discussions to investigate the temporary nature of labor migration among internal migrants in India. Our findings reveal that migration decisions are rational choices made collectively at the household level, considering socio-economic outcomes. We also find that social networks and contractors facilitate migration arrangements and job connections, and migrants employ various strategies to reduce costs and cope with expenses in urban areas. However, migration destinations often fail to meet migrants' expectations, exposing them to low-wage employment and precarious working and living conditions, which are detrimental to their health. Limited housing and sanitation facilities further contribute to the challenges faced by migrants. Work conditions, including poor wages and high job demands, also affect their well-being. These findings highlight the need for improved support systems that address accommodation challenges, work conditions, and the overall welfare of labor migrants.

Stress beliefs moderate the impact of COVID-19 related work stress on depressive, anxiety and distress symptoms in health care workers.

Health care workers are at increased risk for mental health issues due to high psychological and physical job demands. According to a recent study, stress beliefs (i.e., believing stress to be detrimental to one's health) might influence physicians' mental health in response to a naturalistic stressor (COVID-19 hospital working conditions). Due to a small sample size and high alpha error inflation, the suggested association needs to be interpreted with caution. The current study aims to replicate those findings in a larger sample. A cross-sectional survey among N=418 (64.1% female; Median age=30-39years) physicians and nurses of a large German medical centre was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (May/June 2021). Perception of pandemic related increase of work stress was assessed via self-report. Stress beliefs were assessed with the Beliefs About Stress Scale, and mental health symptoms were assessed with the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Stress beliefs moderated the association between increased work stress and mental health symptoms. Increased work stress was associated with increased depressive, anxiety and distress symptoms only in health care workers with medium (simple slope=2.22, p<.001; simple slope=1.27, p<.001; simple slope=3.19, p<.001) and high (simple slope=3.13; p<.001; simple slope=1.66, p<.05; simple slope=4.33, p<.001) negative stress beliefs. Among health care workers with low negative stress beliefs increased work stress was not associated with increased depressive, anxiety and distress symptoms. This confirms negative stress beliefs as variable of interest in research on the impact of stress on mental health in health care workers.

The Occupational Stress Level of Employees in the Penitentiary Class II A, Magelang

The life of an employee entails demands and work conditions that are part of an individual's existence alongside occupational or work-related stress. Work-related stress arises from an individual's response to high workloads and job demands. This study aims to delve deeper into work-related stress among Penitentiary Class II A employees in Magelang City. The research employs a descriptive qualitative approach with three participants as informants using snowball sampling. The criteria for this research include prison officers of Penitentiary Class II A in Magelang, aged between 18 to 65 years old, and experienced in working at the institution. The findings of this study indicate that all three informants experience work-related stress in their work environments. Work stress varies and is driven by factors such as cognitive appraisal, experience, demands, interpersonal influence, and the stress condition viewed from individual experiences (work conditions, personality, emotions, gratitude, and hobbies).

Balancing Act: Dual-Role Conflict and Job Stress in Female Healthcare Workers

This study investigates the relationship between dual-role conflict and job stress among married female nurses working at Hospital X in Magelang. The hospital's policy flexibility in the new normal era aims to enhance healthcare quality, but this also leads to job stress among nurses due to heavy workloads. Interviews with ten married nurses revealed various stress-related issues, highlighting the need for further research. The study defines job stress as the body's response to high job demands and dual-role conflict as the interference between job and family roles. A total of 90 female nurses participated in the study, with data collected via questionnaires using Likert scales. Descriptive statistics showed high levels of dual-role conflict and moderate job stress among participants. Validity and reliability tests confirmed the suitability of the measurement tools used. Pearson correlation analysis revealed no significant relationship between dual-role conflict and job stress (r = -0.073, p &gt; 0.05). The findings suggest that while dual-role conflict levels are high, they do not significantly contribute to job stress among the nurses. Factors such as manageable role conflicts and supportive spouses may mitigate the impact. This study aligns with previous research indicating that dual-role conflict does not necessarily increase job stress among working women. Despite limitations, the study underscores the importance of considering various factors influencing job stress and suggests that other elements may play a more critical role in affecting the stress levels of female nurses at Hospital X.

Answering the call: Experiences of nurses of color during COVID-19.

In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, issues such as high job demands, burnout, and turnover continue to influence the nursing workforce, with heavier impacts to marginalized groups. Understanding the work and life contexts of nurses of color can help guide strategies for workplace equity and meaningful support. This qualitative study explored the experiences of nurses of color in the United States during the pandemic, focusing on feelings about the profession and job decisions. The overarching theme was "answering the call," with subthemes of "COVIDshone a light," "being consumed by COVID,"and "is it worth it?"Participants shared how their racial identities shaped their perceptions and job decisions in positive and negative ways, noting how racism impacted many facets of their work and added to the stressors felt in the workplace and the community. Findings provide insight into the underrepresented perspectives of nurses of color and suggest strategies to eliminate racism in nursing.

Workplace-related determinants of mental health in food and bar workers in Western, high-income countries: A systematic review.

This review synthesizes evidence from etiologic and intervention studies of workplace-related determinants of mental health in workers in food and bar workers in the hospitality industry in Western high-income countries. Peer-reviewed literature published between January 2000 and August 2023 was gathered from five bibliographic databases. Any study design was eligible. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools for appraisal. A narrative analysis was conducted for 26 included studies (total n = 15,069 participants) across Australia (3), Ireland (1), Norway (1), Spain (2), the United States (17) and the United Kingdom (2). Individual and task-related factors such as high emotional job demands and low job control were associated with high burnout and depression. Uncivil and hostile interpersonal interactions with customers, management, and colleagues were found to contribute to poor mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and burnout. Findings from included studies highlight the impact of workplace culture, including management practices and workplace social support, on mental health. Organization-level interventions may therefore be most effective for addressing individual, interpersonal, and organizational determinants of mental health in food and bar occupations, particularly when implemented as part of broader organizational efforts to support health and wellbeing. Industry-wide policy changes may also be necessary to address structural concerns, including job and financial insecurity, job strain and access to benefits, such as secure sick leave and minimum contract hours.

Determinants of psychological injury among health and social care workers in community settings: A systematic review.

Health and Social Care (HSC) workers face psychological health risks in the workplace. While many studies have described psychological injuries in HSC workers, few have examined the determinants. Previous research has primarily focused on hospitals, lacking systematic reviews of community-based settings. To systematically identify and appraise current evidence on the determinants of psychological injuries among HSC workers in community settings. Searches were conducted in three bibliographic databases, supplemented by citation searches. Included studies focused on community-based HSC workers, reporting statistical associations between psychological injury and personal, health, occupational, or organizational factors. Quantitative studies published in English between January 1, 2000 and August 15, 2023 were included. Quality appraisal was undertaken using the JBI critical appraisal checklist. Sixty-six studies were included. Study quality was highly variable, and all studies were cross-sectional. Twenty-three studies linked psychological injury with occupational factors (e.g. low job control, high job demands and low job satisfaction). Thirteen studies observed an association between work environment and psychological injury, and a further eleven between workplace social support and psychological injury. Fewer studies have examined the relationship between psychological injury and personal/individual factors. Occupational and organisational factors are significantly associated with psychological health among HSA workers, in community settings. These aspects of job design, work environment and workplace relationships are modifiable, suggesting an opportunity for work design interventions to improve workers' psychological health and reduce the prevalence of psychological injury in this sector.

The Role of Workplace Spirituality and Organizational Climate Towards Resilience at Work on Nurses

The issue of work resilience among nurses, manifested as physical and emotional exhaustion due to high job demands in healthcare environments. This study aims to examine the influence of workplace spirituality and organizational climate on resilience at work among nurses in the inpatient unit of RSUD Margono Soekarjo Purwokerto. A quantitative correlational approach was employed using a simple random sampling technique. The sample in this study comprised 165 nurses from the inpatient unit of RSUD Margono Soekarjo Purwokerto. The research instruments utilized were the Resilience At Work Scale (RAW Scale), Workplace Spirituality Scale (WSS), and Litwin and Stringer’s Organizational Climate Questionnaire (LSOCQ). The data analysis technique employed was multiple linear regression analysis. The findings indicate that both workplace spirituality and organizational climate can influence resilience at work. These two variables collectively account for 57.8% of the variance in resilience at work. Future researchers may delve more comprehensively into factors affecting nurses' work resilience and provide a stronger foundation for the development of policies and practices aimed at enhancing resilience.

What alleviates the harmful effect of strain on recovery from work of 4478 health and social services workers? A cross-sectional study.

To analyse whether the harmful effect of job demands on recovery can be alleviated by healthy lifestyle, psychological recovery experiences and job resources. We also describe their prevalence among employees in different types of eldercare service and in the health and social services sector in general. Cross-sectional study. The data were collected using a self-report survey in 2020 in the health and social services sector organizations (n = 4478). Employees were classified as the following service types: general health and social services (N = 3225), home care (N = 452), service housing (N = 550) and outpatient and ward care (N = 202). The data were analysed using percentages, cross-tabulations and logistic regression analysis. Poor recovery, high job demands, low appreciation and low autonomy in terms of worktime and breaks were more prevalent in eldercare. Employers could alleviate the risk of high job demands by offering job resources-appreciation, autonomy in terms of worktimes and breaks-and motivating employees to maintain healthy lifestyle habits and use recovery experiences such as relaxation. The study emphasizes the importance of appreciation in the health and social services sector context. Even with moderate levels of appreciation employers can protect employees from poor recovery from work in the demanding health and social services work environment. Eldercare employees face continuous and accumulating work strain at the same time as the sector struggles against a labour shortage. One way to prevent the harmful consequences of strain is to enhance recovery from work. Employers could alleviate the risk of high job demands and poor recovery by showing appreciation and giving employees more autonomy in terms of work time and breaks during the workday. This could also motivate employees to keep up healthy lifestyle habits and use their recovery experiences. Results are important especially in the daily management of HSS work. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER CONTRIBUTE TO THE WIDER GLOBAL CLINICAL COMMUNITY?: Managers in the health and social services sector and eldercare can use these findings to promote recovery from work. STROBE checklist. No patient or public contribution.

Impact of Environmental Uncertainty on Depression and Anxiety Among Chinese Workers: A Moderated Mediation Model.

Environmental uncertainty has reached unprecedented levels in recent years. While there is substantial knowledge about the connection between environmental uncertainty and organizational outcomes, limited attention has been devoted to investigating its impact on employees' depression and anxiety symptoms. Grounded in job demands-resources theory, this study aims to explore the relationship between environmental uncertainty and employees' depression and anxiety symptoms, and it further investigates the mediating role of work pressure and the moderating role of union practices. In September 2022, we undertook a cross-sectional survey study, gathering data from 1081 employees across various enterprises situated in Liaoning, China. Throughout this timeframe, notable global occurrences heightened the awareness of environmental uncertainty. Following the exclusion of participants who did not provide information on the main variables, the final valid sample comprised 940 employees. To test all hypotheses, a series of confirmatory factor analyses and path-analytic procedures were conducted using Mplus 7.0. Our results confirm that environmental uncertainty, as a high job demand, increases employees' work pressure, thereby elevating rates of anxiety and depression; the indirect relationship between environmental uncertainty and employees' anxiety and depression through work pressure is stronger when union practices are lower. Our findings indicate the detrimental impact of environmental uncertainty on employees' mental health, and highlight the roles of work pressure and union practices. In light of this, organizations should take steps to mitigate employees' perceptions of environmental uncertainty and establish mental health programs, in cooperation with union practices, to protect employees' mental well-being.

The mediating effect of health behaviors on the association between job strain and mental health outcome: a national survey of police officers.

Police officers often face emotionally challenging interpersonal situations and numerous studies have demonstrated that policing is a stressful occupation. A study revealed a significant positive correlation between emotional demands among police officers and emotional dissonance, as well as burnout. Health-promoting behaviors can contribute to better overall health outcomes and reduce the risk of developing health problems, but there is limited research evaluating the association of job strain and health behaviors with mental health outcomes in police officers. The objective of this study was to assess the job strain associated with mental health mediated by health behaviors in Taiwanese police officers. This was a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted in Oct 2016. A total of 41,871 police officers (response rate was 79.7%) participated questionnaire that consisted of demographic information, job characteristics, health behaviors, and mental component summary (MCS) scores of the Short-Form Health Survey. Independent t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA) were conducted to assess the differences in mean MCS scores across various demographics, health behavior, and job characteristics. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between job strain and health behaviors with mental health outcomes. MCS scores were associated with job characteristics and health behaviors among police officers except for gender. After adjusting for covariates, multivariate analysis indicated that police officers with high job demands and high job strain index exhibited poor MCS scores. Job strain was significantly associated with MCS mediated by health behaviors (consumption of fruits and vegetables, and physical activity) in Taiwanese police officers. Since regular physical activity and increased vegetable and fruit consumption might alleviate the effects of job strain on mental health status, it is recommended that institutional policies be established to promote health-enhancing behaviors among police officers.