Social Avoidance in Policing: Associations with Cardiovascular Disease and the Role of Social Support

Details

• Personal Author:
  Andrew, Michael E. ; Fekedulegn D ; Gu JK ; Ma CC ; Mnatsakanova A ; Violanti JM
• Description:
  Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the association of social avoidance among police, cardiovascular disease (CVD) (metabolic syndrome (MetSyn)), and social support. Design/methodology/approach: Participants were officers from the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress study (n=289). Social avoidance (defined as the tendency to avoid social contact) and other subscales from the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale were analyzed. The mean number of MetSyn components across tertiles of the Cook-Medley scales was computed using analysis of variance and analysis of covariance. Social support was measured with the Social Provisions Scale, categorized as high or low based on the median. Findings: The mean number of MetSyn components increased significantly across tertiles of social avoidance (1.51 +/- 0.18, 1.52 +/- 0.12, and 1.81+/- 0.12); the only Cook-Medley subscale that remained significantly associated with MetSyn following adjustment for age and gender. Participants high in social avoidance reported significantly lower social support (79.9 +/- 8.5 vs 85.8 +/- 8.6; p=0.001). Research limitations/implications: The study is cross-sectional and therefore precludes causality. The authors were unable to determine the direction of associations between social avoidance and MetSyn. The measure of social support was unidimensional, including only perceived support; additional types of social support measures would be helpful. Practical implications: This study suggests that occupational-based police social isolation is associated with health outcomes and lower support. Several suggestions are made which will help to improve communication between the police and public. Examples are the use of social media, training in communication techniques, and changing the police role to one of public guardians. Originality/value: Social avoidance is the least studied the Cook-Medley subscale associated with CVD. It is important for the health of officers to maintain a social connection with others. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Age Factors Behavior Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiovascular System Energy Metabolism Law Enforcement Occupational Health Safety Sex Characteristics Staff Development Stress, Psychological

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• Keywords:
  Age Factors Analytical Instruments Analytical Processes Author Keywords: Social Support Behavior Patterns Cardiovascular Disease Cardiovascular System Disease Communication Systems Cross Sectional Studies Group Behavior Health Protection Job Stress Law Enforcement Workers Metabolic Disorders Metabolic Effects Metabolic Syndrome Police Culture Police Officers Psychosocial Factors Sex Factors Social Avoidance Social Media Sociological Factors Stress-related Illnesses Training

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• ISSN:
  1363-951X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  41
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051492
• Citation:
  Policing 2018 Jul; 41(5):539-549
• Contact Point Address:
  John M. Violanti, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
• Email:
  violanti@buffalo.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Public Safety
• Performing Organization:
  State University of New York at Buffalo
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20150901
• Source Full Name:
  Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management
• End Date:
  20190831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b6bcf0ad0642a2068b2c93496638122eaa8a4aac3bcec2d75c51822a38897b306bfe88b0afbd93bd02ba6e20fb88eb9df6ef05d77edf0d06055e1a73f89f64cf
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211414/cdc_211414_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 216.80 KB ]