The Chronic Health Effects of Work-Related Stressors Experienced by Police Communications Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Jetelina, Katelyn K. ; Perez, Rodolfo A. ; Reingle Gonzalez, Jennifer M.
• Description:
  Background: Law enforcement communications (i.e., 911 dispatch and call takers) is a challenging and stressful occupation. The purpose of this study is to identify the main stressors associated with employment in law enforcement communications, and to identify and provide context to how these stressors affect workers' health and wellbeing. Methods: This research study included focus groups with 23 call takers and 911 dispatchers employed by a large, urban law enforcement agency in 2018. Thematic analyses were conducted to identify trends. Results: Four themes of stressors emerged (i.e., the high stakes nature of some 911 calls for service, understaffing, supervisor-related stress, and recruiting practice). Two health-related themes emerged as being occupation-related: weight gain and poor sleep patterns/insufficient sleep). Specifically, participants reported negative eating habits resulting in weight gain and obesity, lack of sleep and irregular sleep schedules, and development of hypertension and/or diabetes since beginning their jobs. Conclusion: Law enforcement communications professionals experience a number of the same stressors facing law enforcement officers in patrol. These stressors, combined with the sedentary nature of the job, could result in long-term, chronic health problems. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Law Enforcement Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Safety Sleep Stress, Psychological
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: 911 Communication Workers Emergency Communications Health Job Stress Law Enforcement Workers Mental Health Police Qualitative Qualitative Analysis Worker Health Work Organization

  More +
• ISSN:
  2093-7911
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  5 pdf pages
• Volume:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066917
• Citation:
  Saf Health Work 2021 Sep; 12(3):365-369
• Contact Point Address:
  Jennifer M. Reingle Gonzalez, Population Health, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, 2800 Swiss Ave, Dallas, TX, 75204, USA
• Email:
  jgonzalez@mmhpi.org
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• Performing Organization:
  University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20180901
• Source Full Name:
  Safety and Health at Work
• End Date:
  20210831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1c4e8c183407804b3f60793ca327d89c2875d8ddefc58d37af1c1c25a8f8defc8b975b0476c02b0ff878eeb43e5c400d8d3dabbb0c64e077cea1addc3de9c37d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230859/cdc_230859_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 230.69 KB ]