The aim of this study was to examine whether job demands and job resources predict depression and anxiety levels among police officers and whether emotional exhaustion plays a mediating role in this relationship. In addition, we tested whether job resources can serve as a protective factor against job-related strain. A total of 843 German police officers completed the questionnaires in an online survey. Results showed that job demands (high workload and assaults by citizens) predicted higher levels of depression and anxiety among police officers, mediated through emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, job resources (social support by colleagues, shared values, and positive leadership climate) buffered the effect of job demands on emotional exhaustion and were negatively associated with depression and anxiety levels. The identification of job demands and job resources that are related to psychological strain among police officers provides important information for interventions in order to promote mental health in the context of police work.

This study examined the association between job characteristics, namely job demands and job resources, and mental health outcomes in terms of emotional exhaustion and well-being among police officers. Eight hundred forty-three German police officers participated in a cross-sectional online survey. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the validity of the dual process model of the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework in the context of police work. Job demands (verbal assaults by citizens, workload, and administrative stressors) predicted emotional exhaustion whereas job resources (team support, shared values, and perceived fairness) predicted well-being. Moreover, job resources were directly and negatively associated with emotional exhaustion. The findings confirm the capacity of job resources to simultaneously promote well-being and reduce emotional exhaustion. Work place interventions should thus not merely decrease job demands. To improve and protect police officers' well-being, it is advisable to promote job resources. A supportive and fair organizational climate based on shared values is required to foster mental health in the context of police work.

Aim Mental health among university students represents an important and growing public health concern. International research has shown a high prevalence of depression and anxiety among university students. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression as well as anxiety among German university students and to assess gender differences and discrepancies between fields of study as well as class years. Additionally, an important public health issuethe impact of structural conditions at the university on depression and anxiety-was addressed. Subject and methods A Web-based survey was conducted at two German universities, employing data from 1,707 students. Anxiety and depressive disorders were assessed with the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4), and structural conditions at the universities were also determined. Results During the 2 weeks prior to the survey, 14.2 % of the students showed depressive and 16.3 % anxiety symptoms; symptoms of both disorders were experienced by 8.4 %. Gender differences and differences correlated with study year and field were found, but the effect size showed that these were not empirically relevant. Structural conditions, such as study demands, time latitude, social support by students, qualification potential and decision latitude, proved to be significant predictors for depression and accounted for 18 % of the total variance. Demands, time latitude and social support by students were proven to be significant predictors for anxiety, contributing to 16 % of the total variance. Conclusions These findings highlight the need to address mental health problems among university students and to initiate interventions. Furthermore, the findings implicate that study demands placed on students should be adjusted, and study resources, especially time latitude and social support by other students, should be promoted.

Zusammenfassung. Das in der arbeitspsychologischen Forschung gut etablierte Job Demands-Resources Modell ( Demerouti, Bakker, Nachreiner & Schaufeli, 2001 ) bewährt sich auch im Studienkontext. Analog zu den Annahmen dieses Modells werden bezogen auf das Studium zwei parallel ablaufende Prozesse angenommen: ein Pfad der Gesundheitsbeeinträchtigung, in dem Anforderungen im Studium vermittelt durch Erschöpfung zu gesundheitlichen Einbußen führen und ein motivationaler Pfad, bei dem Ressourcen vermittelt über Engagement zu einem Zugewinn an Gesundheit führen. Für die Analysen wurden Daten von 808 Studierenden genutzt. Sie gaben Auskunft zu ihrem Erschöpfungserleben, ihrem Engagement, ihrer Wahrnehmung und Bewertung von Anforderungen und Ressourcen im Studium sowie ihrem Wohlbefinden. Die oben skizzierten Wirkmechanismen wurden in einem Strukturgleichungsmodell geprüft. Wahrgenommene Anforderungen im Studium sind hypothesenkonform mit Erschöpfung (ß = .79) und darüber invers mit Beeinträchtigungen des Wohlbefindens (ß = -.53) assoziiert, eine gute Ressourcenausstattung hingegen korreliert mit Engagement (ß = .78) sowie positiv mit dem Wohlbefinden (ß = .32). Das Modell parallel ablaufender Prozesse ist akzeptabel an die Daten angepasst. Ein Modell mit kreuzweiser Verschränkung der Pfade von Ressourcen auf Erschöpfung und von Anforderungen auf Engagement bringt gegenüber dem Ausgangsmodell parallel ablaufender Prozesse einen leichten Zugewinn. Die Korrelation zwischen Ressourcen im Studium und Erschöpfung (ß = -.18) erwies sich zwar als signifikant, nicht aber die zwischen Anforderungen im Studium und Engagement (ß = .02).

Zusammenfassung. Zur Anwendung bei Studierenden wurde das Maslach-Burnout-Inventar für Studierende ins Deutsche übersetzt, sowie gekürzt. Mit Daten von 9.663 Studierenden aus verschiedenen Erhebungen wurde die Faktorstruktur geprüft. Die zu Grunde gelegte dreifaktorielle Struktur konnte empirisch bestätigt werden und die drei Dimensionen erwiesen sich als hinreichend reliabel. Die konvergente Validität wurde mit inhaltsnahen Konstrukten belegt. Explorativ wurden außerdem depressive Studierende mit nicht depressiven Studierenden auf allen drei Dimensionen verglichen, hierbei wurden hypothesenkonform signifikante Unterschiede festgestellt. Die Ergebnisse der Analysen sprechen für die Anwendbarkeit der deutschen Kurzversion des Maslach-Burnout-Inventars (MBI-SS KV), die sich besonders für Mehrthemenbefragungen eignet.

Police officers are exposed to a high amount of work effort in their everyday employment. This increases their risk of developing emotional exhaustion, the key symptom of the burnout syndrome. Previous research suggests that leadership climate is important for employees’ health and thus might be protective against emotional exhaustion. This study investigated whether a positive leadership climate prevents emotional exhaustion and buffers the negative impact of work effort in police officers. Data from a cross-sectional health survey in a German police department ( N = 570) were used to test the assumptions. Results of the hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that high work effort was correlated with high levels of emotional exhaustion and positive leadership climate was associated with low levels of emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, both predictor variables interacted, indicating a buffer effect of a positive leadership climate under stressful working conditions. This is the first study to show both direct and indirect protective effects of a positive leadership climate in police officers. In police work, stressful working conditions such as high work effort are hard to avoid. Thus, it is crucial to promote preventive factors such as a positive leadership climate to protect police officers’ health. Suggestions of how police supervisors and departments might establish a positive leadership climate are presented.

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