Stress and coping mechanisms of officers of the South African Police Service based in Tzaneen, Limpopo province, South Africa

Abstract

BackgroundIn this study, stress is conceptualised as a psychological syndrome in response to stressors. Stress and inappropriate coping mechanisms constitute a serious problem in police profession. Organisational causes of stress, such as lack of support from management, are additional stressors. The ability to cope with this stress is influenced by marital status, gender, rank, age and years of service. In managing stress, police officers may use adaptive or maladaptive coping mechanisms.AimTo investigate stress and the coping mechanisms used by police officers.SettingThe study was set in Tzaneen, Limpopo province, South Africa.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used a self-administered questionnaire based on the Police Stress Inventory (PSI) and Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) tools.ResultsOf the 104 participants, female police officers had significantly higher stress intensity scores, while constables and captains had statistically significant lower stress scores. The highest ranked stressors were killing someone in the line of duty, a fellow officer killed in the line of duty, and knowledge of and experiencing the death of a fellow officer in the line of duty. The five most frequently occurring stressors were organisational in nature. Respondents were more likely to use coping strategies that were problem-focused.ConclusionOrganisational stressors were common, suggesting that the South African Police Services (SAPS) management should provide interventions that reduce the effects of work-related stressors. The majority of respondents used problem-focused coping strategies, indicating that most handle stressors in a positive manner.

COVID–19 and police personnel

“…Similarly, a fewer studies reported that engaging in physical activities, entertainment sources like TV and music, thinking positively the problems can be solved and confront the problems, trying to find comfort in their religion, trying to see everything in a different light to make it more positive were the coping mechanisms likely to be adapted by them though their applicability in a crisis situation such as COVID-19 is questionable. [ 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ]…”

Fatores de risco e de proteção associados ao desenvolvimento de estresse em uma amostra de policiais rodoviários federais do estado de São Paulo

“…Ao observar na literatura sobre o estresse no ambiente policial, verifica-se estudos que associam fatores de riscos proveniente de 3 (três) fontes: aspectos individuaisque envolvem tipos de personalidade, resiliência e coping; os aspectos operacionaisque envolvem situações do trabalho na prática; os organizacionais, que estão ligados ao contexto institucional da policial 29,31 .…”

“…Resultados análogos, também foram descritos em revisões sistemáticas que relacionaram estresse com o ambiente policial 41,44 . Além destes, outro fator muito associado e pouco estudado até o momento é sobre o impacto que o trabalho, desses agentes da segurança pública, geram nas relações familiares e as respectivas consequências 29,31,45,47 .…”

“…Quanto aos estressores organizacionais associados ao estresse, pode-se elencar equipe reduzida, lideranças tóxicas ou despreparadas 29,48,52 , excessos de burocracias, cortes no orçamento 39,48,53 , pressão dos superiores 54,56 , além de falta de apoio institucional 35,52 .…”

“…As situações descritas acima podem, além de causar estresse profissional, também expor o policial a sintomas mais graves, tais como TEPT 37,49,62,66 ; Burnout 41,63,65 ; transtornos mentais 66,67 ; além de ideações suicidas 29,31,66,67 . Estes sintomas, quando não prevenidos, identificados e tratados a tempo, podem incapacitar este servidor permanentemente.…”