Aim: The health monitoring of the police of
Saxony-Anhalt reveals both high absenteeism,
especially among older officers, and a
steady increase in mental illness. The existence
of service-age-specific differences in
the effects of workplace stress situations for
police officers is considered proved. To improve
preventive measures for specific target
groups, the relationship between workrelated
behaviour and experience patterns
and the number of years worked was studied
for various ranks of police officers.
Methods: 457 police officers were asked by
questionnaire about the relevant parameters.
Furthermore the data for 414 officers were
evaluated with respect to the relationship
between seniority and work-related behaviour
and experience.
Results: Of the 457 respondents, all police officers
could be assigned to one of the four different
AVEM (Arbeitsbezogenes Verhaltensund
Erlebensmuster: work-related behaviour
and experience patterns) pattern (G: 25.2 %,
S: 26.3 % A: 26.7 % B: 21.9 %). It appears that
with increasing seniority, the proportion
of police officers prone to overexertion increases.
The lower ranks do not show any adverse
developments over time in connection
with the pattern of service, but in comparison
with the higher ranks have a less favourable
distribution pattern. Behaviour and experience
of higher rank officers changes unfavourably
with increasing seniority.
Conclusions: The results show that a targeted
development of preventive policies for
senior officers is required to buffer the negative
effects of workplace stress. The starting
situation here is favourable because the majority
can be assumed to have a high level of
professional commitment.
