BACKGROUNDThe authors conducted a retrospective cohort mortality study on police officers from 1950-2005.METHODSStandardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) analyses were conducted separately for white male (n=2761), black (n=286), and female (n=259) officers.RESULTSMortality from all causes of death combined for white male officers was significantly higher than expected (SMR=1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.14-1.26). Increased mortality was also seen for all malignant neoplasms combined (SMR=1.32; 1.19-1.46), all benign neoplasms combined (SMR=2.50; 1.08-4.93), and all diseases of the circulatory system combined (SMR=1.11; 1.02-1.19). The elevated mortality for all malignant neoplasms was primarily due to statistically significant excesses in cancers of the esophagus, colon, respiratory system, Hodgkin's disease and leukemia. Black officers had lower than expected mortality from all causes (SMR=0.45; 0.18-0.92) while female officers had elevated all-cause mortality (SMR=2.17; 1.12-3.79).CONCLUSIONSFindings of increased risk for malignant neoplasms should be replicated and studied in relation to measured risk factors.
This study presents findings from an updated retrospective cohort mortality study of male police officers from January 1, 1950 to December 31, 1990 (n = 2,593; 58,474 person-years; 98% follow-up). Significantly higher than expected mortality rates were found for all cause mortality (Standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 110; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.04-1.17), all malignant neoplasms (SMR = 125; 95% CI = 1.10-1.41), cancer of the esophagus (SMR = 213; 95% CI = 1.01-3.91), cancer of the colon (SMR = 187; 95% CI = 1.29-2.59), cancer of the kidney (SMR = 2.08, 95% CI = 100-3.82), Hodgkin's disease (SMR = 313; 95% CI = 1.01-7.29), cirrhosis of the liver (SMR = 150; 95% CI = 1.00-2.16), and suicide (SMR = 153; 95% CI = 1.00-2.24). All accidents were significantly lower (SMR = 53; 95% CI = 0.34-0.79). Mortality by years of police service showed higher than expected rates for (1) all malignant neoplasms in the 1- to 9-years-of-service group; (2) all causes, bladder cancer, leukemia, and arteriosclerotic heart disease in the 10 to 19-year group; and (3) colon cancer and cirrhosis of the liver in the over 30 years of service group. Hypotheses for findings are discussed.
Police officers work in an environment of chronic psychological stress which may be associated with sleep quality. Variation in sleep quality may be a result of how well officers cope with stress. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between police-specific stresses and sleep quality, and factors which may modify these associations. Participants were 356 police officers (256 men, 100 women) from the Buffalo Cardio-metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) Study examined between 2004 and 2009. Stress in the past year, including organizational, physical and psychological danger and lack of support, was measured using the Spielberger Police Stress Survey. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Analysis of covariance was used to examine multivariable-adjusted sleep quality across police stress tertiles; p-values were obtained from linear regression. Adjustments were made for age, gender, race, education, marital and smoking status. Analyses were stratified by coping and depressive symptoms, potential moderators of the association of interest. Multivariable-adjusted global sleep and sleep disturbance scores increased significantly with increasing tertiles of police stress scores for the total and subscale scores (p<0.005). The association with global sleep was significant for those who used more passive coping strategies (p<0.007). The association with sleep disturbances was significant for those with higher levels of depressive symptoms (p<0.003) and passive coping (p<0.001). These findings demonstrate that different types of police stress may adversely affect sleep quality, and those who use passive coping strategies, such as self-blame or denial, and those with higher depressive symptoms may be more adversely affected by police stress.
Police work is a high stress occupation and stress has been implicated in work absence. The present study examined (1) associations between specific types of police stress and work absences, (2) distinctions between "voluntary" (1-day) and "involuntary" (> 3-days) absences; and (3) the modifying effect of resiliency. Officers (n=337) from the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress study were included in the present study. The sample was 72% male, 77% Caucasian, 73% married, and 75% patrol officers. Mean age was 41 years (SD=6.4). Measures included: the Spielberger Police Stress Survey, 1-year payroll absence data, and the Dispositional Resilience Scale. The negative binomial regression was used to estimate rate ratios (RR) of 1-day and >3-days work absences for increasing stress scores. Models were adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, rank, smoking status, alcohol intake, and sleep duration. For one-unit increase in stress scores, the covariate adjusted RRs for one-day work absences were: total stress score (RR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.04-1.36); administrative stress (RR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.05-2.18); physical/psychological stress (RR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.14-2.07); and lack of support (RR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.01-3.05). Results suggest that officers were more likely to take voluntary 1-day absences due to specific types of stress at work. When the entire sample was considered, there was no significant association between police specific stress and episodes of work absence lasting at least three consecutive days. Hardy individuals, including those with high scores on the challenge sub-score, may use 1-day absences as a positive coping strategy.
