The Costs of Policing: Psychosocial Capital and Mental Health Outcomes in a Nigeria Police Sample

Span J Psychol. 2015 Oct 14:18:E78. doi: 10.1017/sjp.2015.76.

Abstract

This study examined the influence of psychosocial capital (psychological and workplace social capital) on mental health outcomes among 340 police personnel in Nigeria. Data were collected via anonymously completed questionnaires. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling, and the results revealed that in the context of stress and traumatic stress, resilience p < .05, optimism p < .05, self-efficacy p < .05, hope p < .05, and workplace social capital p < .05 can influence the development of mental health problems or adaptation. The findings imply that it is important that both researchers and police organization pay attention to how psychological capital influence the development of psychopathology or resilience and how such issues can be addressed through psychological training in the workplace.

Keywords: Nigeria; mental health outcomes; police personnel; psychological capital; workplace social capital.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nigeria
  • Occupational Diseases / psychology*
  • Police / psychology*
  • Resilience, Psychological*
  • Social Capital*
  • Stress Disorders, Traumatic / psychology*
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Young Adult