Exploring Rural-urban Disparities in Stress among Police Officers in China

• In Event: 4367 - Section on Asia and Asian America Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: 7. Medical Sociology

Abstract

This study examines the differences in police stress between rural and urban police officers in China. This study collected 608 responses from a sample of police officers receiving in-service training at a national police university in China. Results show that Chinese rural officers possess a higher level of somatization than do their urban counterparts, though no rural-urban differences were detected for other stress dimensions—anxiety and depression. Additionally, this study suggests that constrains in resources and training partially mediate the effects of regional difference (rural/urban police) on levels of somatization. Explanations and policy implications are discussed.

Authors

• Guangzhen Wu, University of Utah

• Ming Wen, University of Utah