Shift-work and suicide ideation among police officers

✍ Scribed by John M. Violanti; Luenda E. Charles; Tara A. Hartley; Anna Mnatsakanova; Michael E. Andrew; Desta Fekedulegn; Bryan Vila; Cecil M. Burchfiel

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 138 KB
• Volume: 51
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-3586
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20629

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background

This cross‐sectional study assessed the association of shift work with suicide ideation among police officers.

Methods

Shift work was based on daily payroll records over 5 years (41 women, 70 men). Standardized psychological measures were employed. ANOVA and Poisson regression were used to evaluate associations.

Results

Among policewomen with increased depressive symptoms, prevalence of suicide ideation increased by 116% for every 10‐unit increase in percentage of hours worked on day shift (prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.22–3.71). Among policemen with higher (but not lower) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, prevalence of suicide ideation increased by 13% with every 10‐unit increase in the percentage of hours worked on afternoon shift (PR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.00–1.22).

Conclusion

Prevalence of suicide ideation significantly increased among policewomen with higher depressive symptoms and increasing day shift hours, and among policemen with higher PTSD symptoms with increasing afternoon shift hours. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:758–768, 2008. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.