Across Borders, Behind Badges: Comparing Stress and Mental Health in Czech and American Police Officers

• In Event: On the Front Lines: Mental Health and Stress in Policing and Emergency Dispatch

Abstract

Policing is inherently a high-risk profession, with officers frequently encountering traumatic events, high-stress situations, and challenging work environments. However, the most significant sources of stress for police officers are not always the dangers of the job itself. Research suggests that organizational and community factors can contribute more to officer stress than the physical risks (e.g., use of force, potential injury) or demanding job requirements (e.g., irregular shift work). This comparative study examines the impact of different stressors on the mental health of police officers in the United States and the Czech Republic, providing insight into how occupational, organizational, and external factors shape their mental health and well-being.

Authors

• Tara O'Connor Shelley, Tarleton State University

• Rhonda Dobbs, Tarleton State University

• Tomáš Najman, Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague

• Jiří Víšek, Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague

• Lukáš Habich, Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague

• Jan Bajura, Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague

• David Dlouhý, Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague

• Tomáš Mráka, Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague

• Eva Illnerová, ECCE Prague