The Pros And Cons Of Police Stress

One can assume that naturally all occupations come with some sort of job related stress, policing in particular can come with many. Becoming a police officer isn’t always just being of value in ones’ community or exceptional job benefits, it essentially has its pros and cons. What weighs on the average police officer? What type of things stress them out? What issues do officers “take home” with them? There are many stressors associated with being a police officer regardless of your race, gender, or ranking. On top of dealing with stress itself, studies show that police officers are likely to experience negative physical, psychological, and behavioral outcomes as part of job related stressors (Adams, 2010). Stress can be defined in many different

It is often that we hear of this stressor in more than just police work. Specific to cops, would be the idea of developmental politics, involving low social support from co-works and supervisors, along with high work demands and little control over these demands (Hakan, 2015). It is said that police tend to view their authority and department as nonsupportive and unresponsive to employee wants and needs (Violanti, 1995). Also included would be changing work shifts, often resulting in loss of sleep, and feeling harassment or discrimination (Hakan, 2014). Officers see little area for promotion which leads to the feeling that they lack control. A situation will become more stressful, with the less control you have. Studies have shown that jobs with more responsibility, and lack of positive results with cause stress on humans (Stinchcomb, 2004). Unfortunately, things like departmental stress are often ongoing and continuous, where as traumatic encounters are fairly quick and generally

From something as small as irritability, headaches, stomachaches, and backaches, to serious anxiety, depression, panic attacks, ulcers and even heart attacks or strokes. In todays society, no one dies primarily of influenza or typhoid, more and more people are falling victim to the “wear-and-tear diseases” that are heart disease and cancer, and are largely due to stress. Police officers are no exception to this trend, studies show that mortality rates are exceptionally high for cardiovascular disorders and cancer among law enforcement (Stinchcomb, 2004). In regards to ones’ mental health, stress can weigh so heavily that officers can fall victim to depression, with low self esteem, and thoughts of suicide. Stress can even lead to aggression against romantic partners, again affecting ones “work-home life”. Officers may not always find themselves coping with this stress correctly either, in turn causing more health defects. Occasionally, an officer may “feel better” when drinking lots of alcohol, smoking tobacco, eating fatty foods, or bottling anger up inside. However, some law enforcement takes an alternative route and exercise, seek social support, religion, more sleep, and eat healthier and nutritious (Hakan,