Work-related stress as a cardiovascular risk factor in police officers: a systematic review of evidence.
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Purpose Several studies suggest that work-related stress in police officers may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. A systematic review of studies is, however, still lacking. Method According to PRISMA statement, a systematic search of PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Cinahl and PsychInfo electronic databases was undertaken. Studies published in English between 1/1/2000 and 31/12/2016 were included. A studies quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle Ottawa scale (NOS). Results The preliminary search retrieved 752 records. After selection, 16 studies (total population 17,698) were retrieved. The average quality of studies was low. Exposure to stress in cross-sectional studies was inconstantly associated with hypertension, obesity, dyslipidaemia, and impaired glucose metabolism. In addition, there was a prevalence of positive studies showing an association between stress and cardiovascular disease morbidity. Studies of higher quality, such as longitudinal studies on large sample size, were more supportive of a significant positive association between stress and cardiovascular risk factors. Results were, however, often conflicting and inconsistent with regard to definitions and measurement of stress, features of individual study design, study conduct, and conclusions drawn. Conclusions A sound precautionary principle would be to adopt worksite health promotion programs designed to implement stress management strategies in this category of workers.
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Policing is a stressful occupation and this stress negatively impacts police officers' mental and physical health, performance, and interactions with citizens.
“Research has demonstrated that policing is a stressful occupation and that this stress has a negative impact on police officers’ mental and physical health, performance, and interactions with citizens.”
From Burnout and Stress Measurement in Police Officers: Literature Review and a Study With the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire (2020) · cites this paper as Magnavita et al., 2018
The Introduction describes police work as physically and psychologically demanding and discusses stress-related PTSD; another passage reports physical and mental illness and possible absenteeism or presenteeism. The copy does not establish that stress harms officers’ performance or their interactions with citizens. The relevant passages are labeled Introduction and Compliance with ethical standards; page numbers are unavailable. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPolice activity is described in the literature as stressful, leading to poor physical and mental health outcomes over time, in which burnout is included.
“Police activity is, thus, described in the literature as stressful, leading to poor physical and mental health outcomes over time, in which burnout is included”
From Psychosocial risk and protective factors associated with burnout in police officers: A systematic review (2023) · cites this paper as Magnavita et al., 2018
The Introduction (page unavailable) describes police work as physically and psychologically demanding and discusses chronic stress and PTSD. The paper also refers to physical and mental illness among police officers, but the passages found do not identify burnout as an outcome; a search for “burnout” found no matching passage. The claim is therefore supported in broad terms, but not in its specific inclusion of burnout. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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Cites
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Cited by
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Queirós, C., Passos, F., Bártolo, A., Marques, A. J., da Silva, C. F., & Pereira, A. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00587 · Cited by 241 · see citing works
Alves, L., Abreo, L., Petkari, E., & Pinto da Costa, M. (2023) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.03.081 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
- Authors
- Magnavita, N., Capitanelli, I., Garbarino, S., & Pira, E.
- Affiliations
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
- Ministry of Interior (IT)
- University of Turin (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Capitanelli, I.
- Venue
- International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
- Published
- 2018-01-17
- Volume
- 91
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 377-389
- ISSN
- 0340-0131 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-1246
- OpenAlex
- W2792544295
- Cited by
- 108
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 1.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- other-oa
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Institutional Research Information System University of Turin (University of Turin) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Keywords
- occupational stress, police officers, cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose metabolism, workplace health promotion, stress management
- MeSH terms
- Occupational Stress, Cardiovascular Diseases, Female, Humans, Hypertension, Male, Obesity, Occupational Diseases, Risk Factors, Police, Glucose Metabolism Disorders, Dyslipidemias
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