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Associations Between Police Work Stressors and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: Examining the Moderating Effects of Co**

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Abstract

The role of co** in the association between stress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not clear. We investigated the effects of active and passive co** strategies on the associations between police stress (administrative and organization pressure, physical and psychological threats, and lack of support) and PTSD symptoms in 342 police officers. Linear regression model was used in the analyses. The association between physical and psychological stress and PTSD symptoms was stronger in officers who used lower active co** (B = 4.34, p < 0.001) compared to those who utilized higher active co** (p-interaction = 0.027) (B = 1.79, p ≤ 0.003). A similar result was found between lack of support and PTSD symptoms (p-interaction = 0.016) (lower active co**, B = 5.70, p < 0.001; higher active co**, B = 3.33, p < 0.001), but was not significantly different comparing the two groups regarding the association between administrative and organizational pressure and PTSD symptoms (p-interaction = 0.376). Associations of total stress, administrative and organizational pressure, and physical and psychological stressors with PTSD symptoms were significantly stronger in officers who utilized higher passive co** (p-interaction = 0.011, 0.030, and 0.023, respectively). In conclusion, low active or high passive co** methods may exacerbate the effect of work stress on PTSD symptoms.

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Funding

This work was supported by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under Grant No. 200-2003-01580, 2004–2009.

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  1. Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 270 Farber Hall, Buffalo, NY, USA

    John M. Violanti

  2. Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA

    Claudia C. Ma, Anna Mnatsakanova, Desta Fekedulegn, Tara A. Hartley, Ja Kook Gu & Michael E. Andrew

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Correspondence to John M. Violanti.

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Violanti, J.M., Ma, C.C., Mnatsakanova, A. et al. Associations Between Police Work Stressors and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: Examining the Moderating Effects of Co**. J Police Crim Psych 33, 271–282 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-018-9276-y

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