Nam Yoon-Sung, Frazier Patricia A, Everson-Rose Susan, Kim Hyun, Ryan Andrew D, Ramirez Marizen R
Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, USA.
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, USA.
Int J Police Sci Manag. 2024 Nov 14;27(2):131-143. doi: 10.1177/14613557241292963.
Sworn law enforcement personnel in the United States face high rates of work-related stress. Yet, the well-being of more than 300,000 non-sworn personnel, particularly regarding work-related trauma and stress, remains underexplored. This study aims to test the hypothesis that non-sworn personnel experience lower levels of stress, comparing stress and probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) between sworn and non-sworn personnel. The study recruited 283 sworn and 85 non-sworn personnel from two large urban law enforcement agencies in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, between May and October 2021, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic and the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd. Participants completed an online survey measuring perceived work-related stress (organizational and operational) and PTSD validated by PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) questionnaire. The study considered different intensities of exposure to COVID and civil unrest, demographics, and worker characteristics as covariates in linear regression models, comparing stress outcomes among sworn and non-sworn personnel. The results showed no significant difference in operational and organizational stress levels between groups, except regarding pension eligibility (non-sworn < 5 years, sworn < 10 years). Non-sworn personnel not yet pension-eligible reported lower organizational stress (β = -10.1, CI = -18.84, -1.36). PCL-5 scores averaged 20.2 ± 17.4 for sworn and 23.6 ± 19.1 for non-sworn personnel, indicating no significant difference in probable PTSD (β = 3.24, CI = -4.19, 10.67). Both groups experienced similar stress levels, though non-sworn personnel ineligible for pension benefits showed lower organizational stress. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions and enhanced mental health services for all law enforcement personnel, regardless of classification.
美国宣誓执法人员面临着与工作相关的高压力。然而，超过30万名非宣誓人员的福祉，尤其是与工作相关的创伤和压力方面，仍未得到充分研究。本研究旨在检验这一假设：非宣誓人员经历的压力水平较低，比较宣誓人员和非宣誓人员之间的压力及可能的创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）。该研究于2021年5月至10月期间，从明尼苏达州双子城的两个大型城市执法机构招募了283名宣誓人员和85名非宣誓人员，这一时期恰逢新冠疫情以及乔治·弗洛伊德被谋杀后的社会动荡。参与者完成了一项在线调查，该调查测量了感知到的与工作相关的压力（组织层面和操作层面）以及通过《精神疾病诊断与统计手册》第5版创伤后应激障碍检查表（PCL - 5）问卷验证的创伤后应激障碍。该研究将不同强度的新冠疫情和社会动荡暴露、人口统计学特征以及工作者特征作为线性回归模型中的协变量，比较宣誓人员和非宣誓人员之间的压力结果。结果显示，除了养老金资格方面（非宣誓人员工作年限<5年，宣誓人员工作年限<10年），两组在操作层面和组织层面的压力水平没有显著差异。尚未符合养老金资格的非宣誓人员报告的组织压力较低（β = -10.1，置信区间 = -18.84，-1.36）。宣誓人员的PCL - 5得分平均为20.2±17.4，非宣誓人员为23.6±19.1，表明在可能的创伤后应激障碍方面没有显著差异（β = 3.24，置信区间 = -4.19，10.67）。两组经历的压力水平相似，不过不符合养老金福利资格的非宣誓人员的组织压力较低。这些发现强调了针对所有执法人员（无论其分类如何）进行有针对性干预和加强心理健康服务的重要性。
