The impact of stressful events and critical incidents on law enforcement personnel : preliminary findings from Nova Scotia law enforcement personnel

Abstract

Job related stress is recognized as having an impact on many occupations. Although there have been many studies of the physical and psychological impact of stress on law enforcement personnel from the United States, little research has involved Canadians. The present study examined the level of stress and the patterns of impact on 200 Nova Scotia law enforcement personnel. The frequency of work-related stressful events and critical incidents were bound to be positively associated with the Symptoms CheckList-90 (SCL-90), the Impact of Events Scale (IES) as well as the incidence of cancer. Alcohol and drugs were frequently used by more stressed officers. High blood pressure, heart attack, and job related injury were significantly related to length of service, while positive curvilinear relationships were found between years of service, the SCL-90, and the IES, with those officers working in towns rather than cities affected the most. The results indicated that the choice of stress coping strategy was the key to maintaining one's health. In addition, the results also suggested that sick time leave is a reliable indicator of officers' stress level. Peer support group for self-help may be useful such as that provided by Police Association of Nova Scotia (PANS) Stress Management Assistance Program.