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Operational Stress Levels and Adjustment-Neuroticism Among Police Personnel in Goa

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Abstract

Many aspects of police work such as maintaining public peace, the protection of property, and safeguarding lives are considered highly stressful. The present study was intended to study the operational stress levels and adjustment-neuroticism among police personnel in Goa and to understand whether age, rank, gender, and duration of service influence the testing variables. The study was conducted on 130 police personnel, male and female, with various ranks using Personal Data Sheet, the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire, and Adjustment-Neuroticism Dimensional Inventory. The data collected was statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). A pattern of adjustment-neuroticism indicated that majority of the head constables and assistant sub-inspectors and ranks above were found to be maladjusted. The correlation between operational stress and adjustment-neuroticism was found to be significant and showed a positive correlation. There were significant differences in operational police stress with regard to age and gender. No significant differences were reflected in operational police stress with regard to rank and duration of service. With regard to adjustment-neuroticism, partial significant differences were observed with regard to age and duration of service. There were no significant differences in adjustment-neuroticism with regard to gender and ranks. Based on the results obtained, intervention strategies have been formulated at the organizational and individual levels to cope with work stress and maladjustment.

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Correspondence to Hemangi Narayan Narvekar.

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All procedures performed in the study involving human participants were in accordance with the St. Xavier’s College’s Code of Ethics.

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Narvekar, H.N., D’Cunha, T. Operational Stress Levels and Adjustment-Neuroticism Among Police Personnel in Goa. J Police Crim Psych 36, 159–169 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-020-09379-x

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