Evaluating real-time momentary stress and affect in police officers using a smartphone application

Abstract Background Police officers work under stressful conditions, and the resulting occupational stress may impact their health and well-being through changes in positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). It is therefore important to assess officers’ stress, PA, and NA while it is experienced...

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Main Authors: Gi Wook Ryu, Yong Sook Yang, Mona Choi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-07-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09225-z
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author Gi Wook Ryu
Yong Sook Yang
Mona Choi
author_facet Gi Wook Ryu
Yong Sook Yang
Mona Choi
author_sort Gi Wook Ryu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Police officers work under stressful conditions, and the resulting occupational stress may impact their health and well-being through changes in positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). It is therefore important to assess officers’ stress, PA, and NA while it is experienced. This study evaluates police officers’ momentary stress and affect in real-world settings using an ecological momentary assessment, and examines the within-person (W) and between-person (B) factors that influence momentary affect. Methods Eighty-nine police officers were recruited in South Korea. Participants completed questionnaires about their momentary stress and affect using a smartphone application. The associations between momentary stress, momentary contextual environment, momentary PA, and momentary NA were examined using mixed modeling. Results Social overload (W: -.37), work discontent (W: −.45, B: −.73), social tension (W: −.79, B: −.67), and pressure to perform (W: −.29, B: −.49) were significantly associated with lower PA. Work overload (B: .33) and social isolation(W: .48, B: .31) were significantly associated with higher PA. Being with family (W: .71, B: .91) and friends (W: 1.89, B: 2.45) were significantly associated with higher PA. Being at home or other places away from the work place were significantly associated with higher PA (W: 1.01) and when patrolling or investigating were associated with lower PA (B: − 1.13). Lack of social recognition (W: 1.74, B: 2.33), work discontent (W: 1.59, B: 1.88), social tension (W: 1.74, B: 2.92), and pressure to perform (W: .78, B: 1.92) were significantly associated with higher NA. Being with colleagues (W: − 1.43), family (W: -1.38, B: − 2.66) and friends (W: -1.78, B: − 2.45) were associated with lower NA. Conclusions Momentary within-person and between-person stress factors and contextual factors influenced police officers’ momentary affect. These factors should be considered when developing interventions to mitigate stress and improve affect in police officers.
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spelling doaj.art-db981b402928467aac17262984a12fe12022-12-22T00:07:37ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582020-07-0120111010.1186/s12889-020-09225-zEvaluating real-time momentary stress and affect in police officers using a smartphone applicationGi Wook Ryu0Yong Sook Yang1Mona Choi2Yonsei University College of Nursing, Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research InstituteYonsei University College of Nursing, Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research InstituteYonsei University College of Nursing, Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research InstituteAbstract Background Police officers work under stressful conditions, and the resulting occupational stress may impact their health and well-being through changes in positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). It is therefore important to assess officers’ stress, PA, and NA while it is experienced. This study evaluates police officers’ momentary stress and affect in real-world settings using an ecological momentary assessment, and examines the within-person (W) and between-person (B) factors that influence momentary affect. Methods Eighty-nine police officers were recruited in South Korea. Participants completed questionnaires about their momentary stress and affect using a smartphone application. The associations between momentary stress, momentary contextual environment, momentary PA, and momentary NA were examined using mixed modeling. Results Social overload (W: -.37), work discontent (W: −.45, B: −.73), social tension (W: −.79, B: −.67), and pressure to perform (W: −.29, B: −.49) were significantly associated with lower PA. Work overload (B: .33) and social isolation(W: .48, B: .31) were significantly associated with higher PA. Being with family (W: .71, B: .91) and friends (W: 1.89, B: 2.45) were significantly associated with higher PA. Being at home or other places away from the work place were significantly associated with higher PA (W: 1.01) and when patrolling or investigating were associated with lower PA (B: − 1.13). Lack of social recognition (W: 1.74, B: 2.33), work discontent (W: 1.59, B: 1.88), social tension (W: 1.74, B: 2.92), and pressure to perform (W: .78, B: 1.92) were significantly associated with higher NA. Being with colleagues (W: − 1.43), family (W: -1.38, B: − 2.66) and friends (W: -1.78, B: − 2.45) were associated with lower NA. Conclusions Momentary within-person and between-person stress factors and contextual factors influenced police officers’ momentary affect. These factors should be considered when developing interventions to mitigate stress and improve affect in police officers.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09225-zPolice officerEcological momentary assessmentMomentary stressAffectSmartphone application
spellingShingle Gi Wook Ryu
Yong Sook Yang
Mona Choi
Evaluating real-time momentary stress and affect in police officers using a smartphone application
BMC Public Health
Police officer
Ecological momentary assessment
Momentary stress
Affect
Smartphone application
title Evaluating real-time momentary stress and affect in police officers using a smartphone application
title_full Evaluating real-time momentary stress and affect in police officers using a smartphone application
title_fullStr Evaluating real-time momentary stress and affect in police officers using a smartphone application
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating real-time momentary stress and affect in police officers using a smartphone application
title_short Evaluating real-time momentary stress and affect in police officers using a smartphone application
title_sort evaluating real time momentary stress and affect in police officers using a smartphone application
topic Police officer
Ecological momentary assessment
Momentary stress
Affect
Smartphone application
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09225-z
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AT yongsookyang evaluatingrealtimemomentarystressandaffectinpoliceofficersusingasmartphoneapplication
AT monachoi evaluatingrealtimemomentarystressandaffectinpoliceofficersusingasmartphoneapplication