Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Depression among Police

Police have higher rates of CVD and risk, including obesity than the general population. Stress and physical inactivity are modifiable contributors to CVD. The aim of this study was to identify actual physical activity levels in 6 police The sample included a Pacific Islander police department. We hypothesized that contrary to depiction by the media, the profession is primarily sedentary. Methods included measurement of total energy expenditure (TEE), step counts and metabolic equivalents (METs), not previously studied in police (n =119) departments using activity monitors worn for 96 hours. All subjects completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) that measures depression. Results suggest PHQ-9 scores were positively associated with stress (r =.0504, p = <.001) and sleep (r = .597, p <.001). However, no associations were found between PHQ-9, PSS, PSQI or physical activity. Overall, police were more active on their days off then while at work (p = .020, p <.001); depression rates exceed 30 percent. Groups defined by BMI showed difference in TEE and METs either at work or day off (p<.05). We conclude that police work is primarily sedentary with “bursts” of activity. Shifting from tertiary intervention to health promotion will likely improve the health of police as well as reduce health care costs currently paid for by society. This work contributes to nursing science and healthcare science by addressing chronic disease and modifiable risk factors in an important sector of workers in the public domain.