Authors
Violanti-JM; Fekedulegn-D; Charles-LE; Andrew-ME; Hartley-TA; Mnatsakanova-A; Burchfiel-CM
Source
Am J Crim Justice 2009 Jun; 34(1-2):41-53
Abstract
Police officers are considered at increased risk for suicide. The objective of this study was to explore potential influences on suicide ideation among 105 randomly selected men and women urban police officers. Depression, gender, and marital status appeared to be most strongly associated with police suicidal ideation. Depressive symptoms were higher among women than men officers (12.5 percent vs. 6.2 percent). For each standard deviation increase in depressive symptoms, the prevalence ratio (PR) of suicide ideation increased 73 percent in women (PR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.32-2.27) and 67 percent in men (PR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.21-2.30). The association between depression and ideation was stronger among unmarried women officers (PR = 4.43; 95% CI = 2.19 - 8.91) than married women officers (PR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.09 - 1.79). While depression has previously been associated with suicide, such results are unusual in a healthy working population such as the police.
Keywords
Emergency-responders; Sex-factors; Psychological-disorders; Psychological-effects; Police-officers; Psychological-reactions; Psychological-responses; Demographic-characteristics;
Author Keywords: Police; Suicide; Depression; Gender; Occupational stress
Contact
Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health & Health Professions, State University of NY at Buffalo, 270 Farber Hall, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
violanti@buffalo.edu
Priority Area
Services: Public Safety
Source Name
American Journal of Criminal Justice