Physical Fitness and Psychosocial Profiles of Policewomen from Professional Training Courses and Bodyguard Special Police Sub-Unit
Police work demands a high level of physical fitness (PF) and psychosocial well-being (PSWB) to cope with the challenges and demands of the profession. The profession has historically been male-dominated, and female police officers (POs) face unique challenges and stereotypes. This study aims (i) to...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/13/9/136 |
| _version_ | 1797580450198192128 |
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| author | Mariana Carrilho Vanessa Santos André Rasteiro Luís Miguel Massuça |
| author_facet | Mariana Carrilho Vanessa Santos André Rasteiro Luís Miguel Massuça |
| author_sort | Mariana Carrilho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Police work demands a high level of physical fitness (PF) and psychosocial well-being (PSWB) to cope with the challenges and demands of the profession. The profession has historically been male-dominated, and female police officers (POs) face unique challenges and stereotypes. This study aims (i) to identify the PF and PSWB attributes that significantly distinguish the women from three different professional training courses (agents, chiefs, and officers) and (ii) to assess the significance of PF and PSWB attributes on the likelihood that women in professional training courses belonging to a special bodyguard police sub-unit. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted, involving 102 female POs (professional PO training courses, n = 94; special bodyguard police sub-unit, n = 8). PF (morphology; fitness, including endurance, strength, and flexibility tests) and PSWB (measured through scales for grit and dispositional resilience) attributes were assessed. Significant differences were observed in age, morphological (height and waist-to-hip ratio), fitness (horizontal jump and endurance tests), and PSWB (perseverance in effort and alienation) attributes among the three professional training courses. Stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, relative fat mass, relative muscle mass, horizontal jump, and endurance on exertion significantly distinguished between the three groups. Complementarily, it was observed that the waist-to-hip ratio and sit-up attributes influence the probability of women from the professional training courses joining the special bodyguard police sub-unit. The study highlights that (i) female POs in different professional training courses showed distinct PF and PSWB profiles, and (ii) only two PF attributes (waist-to-hip ratio and sit-up) were predictors for the special bodyguard police sub-unit. In accordance, these findings provide valuable insights for designing training programs to support female POs in improving their PF, psychological well-being, and overall performance in the police profession. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:51:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4dfdf676e9c2402d88edf490314640d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2174-8144 2254-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:51:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-4dfdf676e9c2402d88edf490314640d52023-11-19T10:20:25ZengMDPI AGEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education2174-81442254-96252023-09-011391880189410.3390/ejihpe13090136Physical Fitness and Psychosocial Profiles of Policewomen from Professional Training Courses and Bodyguard Special Police Sub-UnitMariana Carrilho0Vanessa Santos1André Rasteiro2Luís Miguel Massuça3Higher Institute of Police Sciences and Internal Security, 1300-663 Lisbon, PortugalICPOL, Higher Institute of Police Sciences and Internal Security, 1300-663 Lisbon, PortugalHigher Institute of Police Sciences and Internal Security, 1300-663 Lisbon, PortugalHigher Institute of Police Sciences and Internal Security, 1300-663 Lisbon, PortugalPolice work demands a high level of physical fitness (PF) and psychosocial well-being (PSWB) to cope with the challenges and demands of the profession. The profession has historically been male-dominated, and female police officers (POs) face unique challenges and stereotypes. This study aims (i) to identify the PF and PSWB attributes that significantly distinguish the women from three different professional training courses (agents, chiefs, and officers) and (ii) to assess the significance of PF and PSWB attributes on the likelihood that women in professional training courses belonging to a special bodyguard police sub-unit. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted, involving 102 female POs (professional PO training courses, n = 94; special bodyguard police sub-unit, n = 8). PF (morphology; fitness, including endurance, strength, and flexibility tests) and PSWB (measured through scales for grit and dispositional resilience) attributes were assessed. Significant differences were observed in age, morphological (height and waist-to-hip ratio), fitness (horizontal jump and endurance tests), and PSWB (perseverance in effort and alienation) attributes among the three professional training courses. Stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, relative fat mass, relative muscle mass, horizontal jump, and endurance on exertion significantly distinguished between the three groups. Complementarily, it was observed that the waist-to-hip ratio and sit-up attributes influence the probability of women from the professional training courses joining the special bodyguard police sub-unit. The study highlights that (i) female POs in different professional training courses showed distinct PF and PSWB profiles, and (ii) only two PF attributes (waist-to-hip ratio and sit-up) were predictors for the special bodyguard police sub-unit. In accordance, these findings provide valuable insights for designing training programs to support female POs in improving their PF, psychological well-being, and overall performance in the police profession.https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/13/9/136fitnessmorphologyperseverance in effortpolicetraining coursewoman |
| spellingShingle | Mariana Carrilho Vanessa Santos André Rasteiro Luís Miguel Massuça Physical Fitness and Psychosocial Profiles of Policewomen from Professional Training Courses and Bodyguard Special Police Sub-Unit European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education fitness morphology perseverance in effort police training course woman |
| title | Physical Fitness and Psychosocial Profiles of Policewomen from Professional Training Courses and Bodyguard Special Police Sub-Unit |
| title_full | Physical Fitness and Psychosocial Profiles of Policewomen from Professional Training Courses and Bodyguard Special Police Sub-Unit |
| title_fullStr | Physical Fitness and Psychosocial Profiles of Policewomen from Professional Training Courses and Bodyguard Special Police Sub-Unit |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical Fitness and Psychosocial Profiles of Policewomen from Professional Training Courses and Bodyguard Special Police Sub-Unit |
| title_short | Physical Fitness and Psychosocial Profiles of Policewomen from Professional Training Courses and Bodyguard Special Police Sub-Unit |
| title_sort | physical fitness and psychosocial profiles of policewomen from professional training courses and bodyguard special police sub unit |
| topic | fitness morphology perseverance in effort police training course woman |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/13/9/136 |
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