Abstract
Background: Police officers have a psychologically demanding job and may experience workplace hazards which adversely affect their psychosocial well-being, mental health status and work performance.
Objective: This study was designed to assess work stressors in police work and the mental health status of police officers in Oyo State, South west Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional design utilized cluster sampling technique to select 435 police officers in the two area commands in Oyo State, South west Nigeria. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used for collection of socio-demographic characteristics, organizational and operational work stressors. The General Health Questionnaire 12 assessed psychological distress. The maximum obtainable score was 12 and scores of >3 were indicative of psychological distress.
Results: Majority (72%) of police officers were male and mean age was 31.8 ± 8.3 years. 88% were in the junior police rank and 24% had worked more than ten (10) years in the police force. Psychological distress was observed in 34% of police officers. Significant predictors of psychological distress by multivariate logistic regression analysis included: female gender (O.R:1.91, 95% CI 1.16-3.15), and organizational stressors such as: multiple tasks (O.R:2.74, 95% CI 1.53-4.89), special duties (O.R:2.36, 95% CI 1.28- 4.37), confused feedback (O.R:3.05, 95% CI 1.44- 6.42), and bureaucratic hassles (O.R:2.71, 95%CI 1.33-5.51).
Conclusion: Improved work conditions and psychological screening at recruitment should be instituted in the Nigerian Police Force to reduce psychological distress among police officers.
Keywords: Police officers, work stressors, Psychological distress.
Résumé
Contexte: Les agents de police ont un travail exigeant sur le plan psychologique et peuvent être exposés à des dangers au travail qui nuisent à leur bien-être psychosocial, à leur état de santé mentale et à leur rendement au travail.
Objectif: Cette étude a été conçue pour évaluer les facteurs de stress au travail dans le travail de la police et l’état de santé mentale des agents de police dans l’État d’Oyo, au sud-ouest du Nigéria.
Méthodes: Une conception transversale a utilisé une technique d’échantillonnage en grappes pour sélectionner 435 agents de police dans les deux zone de commandements de l’État d’Oyo, au sud-ouest du Nigéria. Un questionnaire auto-administré structuré a été utilisé pour la collecte des caractéristiques sociodémographiques, des facteurs de stress organisationnels et opérationnels au travail. Le Questionnaire de Santé Générale 12 a évalué la détresse psychologique. Le score maximal pouvant être obtenu était de 12 et les scores e”3 étaient indicatifs d’une détresse psychologique.
Résultats: La majorité (72%) des agents de police étaient des hommes et l’âge moyen était de 31,8 ± 8,3 ans. 88% étaient au grade de policier subalterne et 24% avaient travaillé plus de dix (10) ans dans le corps policier. Une détresse psychologique a été observée chez 34% des policiers. Les prédicteurs significatifs de la détresse psychologique par analyse de régression logistique multivariée comprenaient: le sexe féminin (OR: 1,91 ; IC à 95% 1,16-3,15) et les facteurs de stress organisationnels tels que: tâches multiples (OR: 2,74 ; IC à 95% 1,53-4,89), tâches spéciales (OR: 2,36 ; IC à 95% 1,28 - 4,37), rétroaction confuse (OR: 3,05 ; IC à 95% 1,44 - 6,42) et tracas bureaucratiques (OR: 2,71 ; IC à 95% 1,33-5,51).
Conclusion: Des conditions de travail améliorées et un dépistage psychologique lors du recrutement devraient être institués au sein de la police nigériane afin de réduire la détresse psychologique des policiers.
Mots clés: Agents de police, facteurs de stress au travail, détresse psychologique.
Correspondence: Dr. JolaOluwa O. Yesufu, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: johlah18@gmail.com
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