Exploring Workplace Wellness Programs From a Police Officer's Perspective

Date

2020-03

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to explore police officers’ perceptions of what components within a workplace wellness program (WWP) they perceive to affect their wellness. Theoretical Model. The theoretical model for this study was based on the job demands/resources model. This model does not limit itself to specific job demands or resources and assumes any resource or demand may impact employees’ health and well-being. According to the model, job demands cause a health-impairment issue to the employee while job resources impact the individual’s motivational process. Methodology. In this qualitative research study, 34 volunteers were interviewed via the online Zoom video conferencing platform. The study asked 6 semistructured, open-ended questions about which wellness components were perceived to be beneficial to their wellness and what components were perceived to be less beneficial. In addition, this study explored what components of a WWP are perceived to affect physical health, mental health, and stress. The participants are sworn police officers from eleven independent police agencies within Riverside County, California, USA. Findings and Conclusion. The study produced several repeated themes from the participants for which wellness components they perceived could be beneficial, less beneficial, and affect physical health, mental health, and stress. Recommendations. There were several limitations dealing with the convenience, snowball sampled participants that prevent the results from being generalizable to all police officers. Implications and suggestions for law enforcement agencies are discussed.

Description

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Public Administration

Keywords

Law Enforcement

Citation

DOI