Strain and Suicidal Ideation Among Law Enforcement Officers: A Regression Study

• In Event: Poster Session II

Abstract

Law enforcement is a stressful occupation and law enforcement officers are not immune to suicide and suicidal ideation. Almost every year, law enforcement officers commit suicide more frequently than they are feloniously killed in the line of duty. This quantitative non-experimental regression study examined the relationship between strain and suicidal ideation among law enforcement officers. General strain theory was used as the theoretical framework to guide this study. Participants for this study were full-time, active-duty, sworn, municipal, law enforcement. Stratified random sampling was used to obtain participants from small and large municipal law enforcement agencies in the United States. A total of 112 participants provided the data that was used for this study. An electronic survey was completed by law enforcement officers who prior consented to participate in the study. Binary regression analysis was conducted to determine to what extent, if any, strain influenced suicidal ideation controlling for agency size and access to a department chaplain. Strain was not found to have a significant relationship with suicidal ideation, p = .07. The results of this study can be used to enhance policy development and access to resources that will decrease suicide and suicidal ideation among law enforcement officers.

Author

• Kelly Sue Roth, Bloomsburg University