OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of occupational stress related factors on depression symptoms among 244 policemen in a city in China.

METHODSIn May 2011, 287 policemen from a city public security bureau were recruited to this survey by cluster sampling method. We deleted questionnaires which include missing variables on demographic characteristics and factors associated with occupational stress questionnaires which include over 3 missing items. 244 policemen were included in this study. Depression symptoms and occupational stressors were measured using Chinese version of depression self-reported questionnaire, job content questionnaire, Chinese version of effort-reward imbalances questionnaire, job hazard scale and occupational stress inventory. Depression symptom scores and the relationship between the variables and occupational stress were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis.

RESULTSThe Median (P25-P75) of depression symptom scores of all respondents was 16.50 (11.00-25.00). 144 were policemen with no depression symptoms and 100 were with depression symptoms. The median (P25-P75) of depression symptoms scores among policemen with length of serves <10, 10-19, 20-29 and ≥30 was 17.00 (8.00-26.00), 16.00 (11.00-24.50), 19.00 (12.00-27.00), and 12.00 (6.25-15.00), respectively. The difference of scores was significant among length of serves groups (χ2=9.52, P=0.023). The scores of psychological demands, sleep disorder, daily life stress and negative affectivity among policemen with depression symptoms were 17.00 (8.00-26.00), 16.00 (11.00-24.50), 19.00 (12.00-27.00), and 12.00 (6.25-15.00), respectively, which were higher than those with no depression symptoms (24.00 (22.00-25.00), 8.00 (5.00-13.00), 8.00 (6.00-10.00), 1.00 (0-2.75)), and the differences were significant (Z=3.82, 5.39, 5.15, 6.41, P<0.001). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that depression symptoms score was positively related to sleep disorder, commitment effort, psychological demands, daily life stress, negative affectivity and job hazards scores. Correlations coefficient were 0.44, 0.28, 0.28, 0.33, 0.38, 0.44, and 0.38, respectively (P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that self-esteem, daily life stress and negative affectivity had bigger contribution on the depression symptoms scores. The standard regression coefficient was -0.46, 0.19 and 0.13, respectively (P<0.001, P=0.001, P=0.030).

CONCLUSIONSleep disorder, commitment effort, psychological demands, daily life stress, negative affectivity and job hazards scores were the inducement of depression symptoms for policemen. To reduce the daily life stress, negative affectivity and improve the quality of sleep, add to self-esteem, reward and social support have positive effects on reducing the occurrence of depressive symptoms for police.