Published Paper Details:

Occupational stress has become one of the most significant challenges affecting police personnel due to the demanding nature of their profession. Police officers are routinely exposed to operational hazards, traumatic incidents, long working hours, organizational pressures, public scrutiny, and role- related conflicts, all of which contribute to elevated levels of stress and psychological strain. This paper reviews the existing literature on occupational stress among police personnel with the objective of identifying the major sources of stress, examining its impact on individual well-being and organizational performance, and highlighting effective stress management strategies. The review draws on national and international studies published in peer-reviewed journals and reports, revealing that both operational factors, such as exposure to violence and critical incidents, and organizational factors, including excessive workload, inadequate staffing, lack of supervisory support, shift work, and limited career advancement opportunities, significantly influence stress levels among police personnel. The literature further indicates that prolonged occupational stress is associated with adverse outcomes such as burnout, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, cardiovascular problems, reduced job satisfaction, absenteeism, impaired decision-making, and decreased organizational effectiveness. The review also emphasizes the importance of comprehensive interventions, including organizational reforms, mental health support services, resilience training, stress management programs, and supportive leadership, in mitigating occupational stress. Despite substantial research in this field, gaps remain regarding longitudinal evidence and context-specific studies, particularly in developing countries. The paper concludes that addressing occupational stress requires a multidimensional approach that integrates organizational policy changes with individual coping strategies to enhance the health, well-being, and professional effectiveness of police personnel.