Exploring the Impacts of Critical Incident Exposure on Police Officers’ Mental Health

• In Event: Police Officers' Mental Health and Wellness

Abstract

Police officers in Asian societies represent a population that is vulnerable to mental health issues as members of this male-dominant profession are always expected to be tough. While police officers are often exposed to either primary or secondary traumatic events at work and are at elevated risk of developing mental health issues, how these events and subsequent help-seeking attitudes affect their mental health remain understudied. This study aims to examine whether previous critical incident exposure at work affects police officers’ mental health and whether resilience and mental health help-seeking attitudes moderate the cumulative impacts of critical incidents on their mental wellbeing in a non-western setting. The survey data were collected from a sample of more than 800 Taiwanese police officers in 2022. Linear regression was performed to examine the relationship between critical incidents history and officers' mental health and whether resilience and mental help-seeking attitudes serve as protective factors against adverse mental health outcomes. The preliminary findings reveal that critical incident exposure is associated with a higher level of cynicism and more psychological symptoms.

Authors

• Yi-Syuan Jian, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY

• Yi-Fang Lu, George Mason University

• Hung-En Sung, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY