A Comparative Study on Operational Stress, Organizational Stress, Physical Health Among Male and Female Police Personnel

It can be said that psychology ‘applied to policing’ or applying the concepts and practices of psychology to law enforcement, which broadly includes screening, hiring police officers, conducting screening for special quads investigations, negotiations for hostages, and counseling services for police officers and their family members, helping officers deal with traumatic events comes under the area of Police Psychology. This study investigates the relationship and gender distinction/ differences among police officers (both male and female) concerning operational stress, organizational stress, and physical health. The examination employed the PSQ-Org (Organizational Police Stress Questionnaire) by (Pines & Keinan, 2005) Mc. Creary and Thompson, 2006; PSQ-OP (Operational Police Stress Questionnaire) by Mc. Creary and Thompson, 2006; PHQ- 15 (Physical Health Questionnaire) by Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2002 as tools of analysis and assessment to fulfill the aim and objectives of this study.  The sample comprised 50 male and 50 female police personnel from A.S.I (Assistant Sub Inspector) rank from Punjab (Mohali). Results of the study indicated significant positive correlation (relationship) between organizational and operational stress which means that with operational stress, organizational stress also went up for the police personnel. A negative relationship was seen between organizational stress and physical health and between operational stress and physical health. Significant gender differences emerged in organizational stress, operational stress, and physical health.