Occupational Stress and Mental Health in Chilean Police Officers: An Empirical Assessment of Organizational and Operational Stressors

• In Event: Mental Health Panel 2: Substance Use, Occupational Stress, and Suicide: Mental Health at the Margins

Abstract

The policing profession is recognized as one of the most demanding and high-stress occupations worldwide. This study examines the mental health of Carabineros de Chile, focusing on the impact of operational and organizational stressors. Using a quantitative approach, the research employs validated instruments such as the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Op) and the Organizational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Org) to assess stress levels, depression, and anxiety among police officers.
Findings indicate that organizational stressors—such as bureaucratic overload, personnel shortages, and hierarchical tensions—exert a more significant impact on mental health than operational stressors derived from direct law enforcement duties. Additionally, the study reveals disparities in stress experiences based on gender, rank, and geographic deployment, highlighting structural vulnerabilities within the institution.
By drawing on criminological and sociological theories of stress, this research underscores the need for institutional reforms to mitigate occupational stress and enhance psychological support for officers. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on police well-being, occupational health, and public security policies, with implications for international policing contexts.

Author

• Ignacio Eduardo Cid Pozo, University of Lausanne