 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Robyn R.M. Gershon, MHS DrPH, Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, 600 west 168th st, 4th floor, New York, NY 10032, 212 305-1186, rg405@columbia.edu
A cross-sectional survey of police officers from a large, urban police department (N=1106) was conducted in order to determine the relationship between perceived workstress, coping strategies and adverse health outcomes. Maladaptive coping strategies, such as smoking, problem drinking, and hyper-aggressive behavior on and off the job, were found to be associated with higher levels of perceived workstress. For example, workstress was associated with alcoholism (O.R. 1.3, CI 95% 1.03, 1.66), intimate partner abuse (O.R. 2.83, CI95% 1.71, 4.67), and aggressive behavior (O.R. 3.44, CI95%2.66, 4.46). Cognitive (problem solving) coping skills and emotion focused skills (e.g., praying), were found not only to result in significant decreases in perceived workstress, but also resulted in improved health outcomes, with significantly fewer reports of adverse stress-related psychological, physical and behavioral outcomes. These data indicate that in addition to identifying and addressing workplace stressors, especially in high risk occupations, improvements in coping skills may have an overall added benefit in improving the health and well being of at-risk workers.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Occupational Health, Workplace Stressors
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.