"Suck it up, Buttercup": The Role of Gender in the Mental Health of Police Officers

Police officers are at higher risk for several different mental disorders relative to the general population, arguably due to the nature of their work. Women police officers report elevated mental disorders symptoms when compared to men police officers. Empirical research on which factors may be involved in the gender differences in police mental health is sparse and seldom gender balanced. The current explanatory sequential mixed methods research examined how the contrast in the experiences of men and women police officers may influence gender differences in mental disorder prevalence. Among surveyed Canadian police officers (1377; 36% women), women reported elevated symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and general anxiety disorder relative to men, even when accounting for occupational stress, organizational stress, and social support. In contrast, men reported elevated symptoms of alcohol use disorder relative to women, even after accounting for risk factors. Women reported higher rates of social provisions, whereas men reported higher rates of organizational support. Police officers (17; 9 women) in Saskatchewan participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic network analysis identified themes related to the experience of policing for both men and women police officers. Four global themes emerged, each encompassing several organizing themes: (1) Police Culture, (2) Gendered experiences, (3) Mental Health, and (4) Occupational Concerns. An overarching global theme – Gender and Mental Health among Police Officers highlights discrepancies in the experience of policing between men and women. Pervasive gender norms appear to be detrimental for both men and women police officers, as well as the communities they serve. The current results, coupled with the emerging disposition for progress expressed by police services, offer opportunities to develop tailored and focused interventions and policies in order to support the police officers.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Clinical Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Angehrn, Andreanne

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Carleton, R. Nicholas

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Beshai, Shadi
• Fletcher, Amber
• Jones, Nicholas

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.82465/4243

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uregina.scholaris.ca:10294/14314