Condições emocionais de policiais militares do interior de Minas Gerais

Abstract

Research into the health of the military police officer is an important aspect to be understood, especially when considering the fundamental role of this professional within society. Thus, the objective of this dissertation was to verify the prevalence of emotional problems and the level of resilience of military police officers in a city in the interior of Minas Gerais and to investigate their relationships with work characteristics and individual aspects of these professionals. This objective was achieved through three studies, one theoretical and two empirical. The first study was an integrative review aimed at identifying which aspects of the police officers’ mental health have been most investigated in the literature, considering the period from 2012 to 2017. Searches were conducted in the PubMed, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and Electronic Periodicals of Psychology (PePSIC). 72 articles were retrieved, which were analyzed in four categories. The analysis of the articles showed the presence of mental illness in police officers of different countries, the main illnesses being depression, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and burnout syndrome. For the empirical studies, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21); the Burnout Syndrome Assessment Inventory (ISB); the Resilience Scale; and a sociodemographic and lifestyle questionnaire were used. Study 2 aimed to verify the prevalence of depression, stress, burnout, anxiety and the level of resilience of military police officers in a city in the interior of Minas Gerais. The sample consisted of 148 active police officers and descriptive analysis of absolute and relative frequency distribution, mean, median and standard deviation were performed. The results showed that the majority of the police officers were male (85.10%), married (60.10%), had completed higher education (59.50%), and were, on average, 31.95 years old (SD 6,05). Emotional scales indicated that most police officers had a normal classification for depression (59.90%), anxiety (76.10%), stress (72.50%), Burnout syndrome (80.20%), and 76.70% were resilient. Study 3 aimed to present a measure of emotional illness and to investigate the factors associated with the illness of military police officers. From the initial sample, some participants were excluded, leaving the sample with 128 police officers. Descriptive, bivariate analyzes (Spearman and chi-square correlation) and logistic regression were performed. Those who had severe and extremely severe symptoms of depression or those with moderate to extremely severe levels of depressive symptoms, associated with the presence of burnout, were considered ill. The results identified an illness framework already established in a portion of the military police officers evaluated (14.80%). In addition, they showed that stress, work dissatisfaction and worse perception about mental health were factors associated with the development of illness, while resilience was indicated as a protective factor against illness. The studies showed the importance of investigating the emotional state of the police officers, showing the presence of mental illness in the police officers evaluated, as well as the need for interventions to be implemented within the institution, focusing especially on the development of the professionals’ resilience and their satisfaction with the job.

A presente revisão integrativa teve por objetivo identificar quais os aspectos de saúde mental dos policiais têm sido mais investigados na literatura, considerando o período de 2012 a 2017. Foram realizadas buscas nas bases de dados PubMed, Literatura Latino-americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SciELO) e Periódicos Eletrônicos de Psicologia (PePSIC). Foram recuperados 72 artigos que foram analisados em 4 categorias. A análise dos artigos mostrou a presença de adoecimento mental nos policiais de diferentes países e também indicou que poucos trabalhos focaram no desenvolvimento ou avaliação de propostas concretas de intervenção, indicando uma lacuna na literatura que estudos posteriores poderão suprir.

This integration review aimed at identifying what aspects of the police officers’ mental health have been more investigated in the literature considering the period from 2012 to 2017. Searches in the PubMed, Latin-American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS from the original in Portuguese), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and Psychology Electronic Journals (PePSIC from the original in Portuguese) were performed. 72 papers were recovered and analyzed in 4 categories. The analysis of the papers showed the presence of mental illness in police officers from different countries and also identified that few works focused on the development or evaluation of concrete intervention proposals; indicating a gap in the literature that posterior studies can fill.

A investigação sobre a saúde mental do policial militar é um aspecto importante a ser compreendido, principalmente quando se considera o papel fundamental por ele desempenhado dentro da sociedade. Assim, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo verificar a prevalência de depressão, stress, burnout, ansiedade e o nível de resiliência de policiais militares de uma cidade do interior de Minas Gerais. Para a avaliação foram utilizadas a Escala de Depressão, Ansiedade e Stress (DASS 21); o Inventário de Avaliação da Síndrome do Burnout (ISB), a Escala de Resiliência e um questionário perfil sociodemográfico e de hábitos de vida. Foram realizadas análises descritivas de distribuição de frequência absoluta e relativa, média, mediana e desviopadrão. A amostra foi composta por 148 policiais da ativa e os resultados mostraram que a maioria era do sexo masculino (85,10%), casada (60,10%), tinham ensino superior completo (59,50%) e uma média de 31,95 anos de idade (D.P 6,05). As escalas emocionais indicaram que a maioria dos policiais obteve classificação normal para depressão (59,90%), ansiedade (76,10%), stress (72,50%), Síndrome de Burnout (80,20%) e 76,70% eram resilientes. Apesar da maioria dos policiais ter obtido classificação normal para os fatores avaliados, um índice de adoecimento significativo foi identificado. Esses dados sugerem a necessidade de implementação de intervenções que visem prevenir e promover a saúde mental do policial militar.

The investigation into the mental health of the military police officer is an important aspect to be understood, especially when considering the fundamental role they play within society. Thus, the present study aims to verify the prevalence of depression, stress, burnout, anxiety, and the level of resilience of military police officers in a city in the interior of Minas Gerais. For the evaluation, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21); the Burnout Syndrome Assessment Inventory (ISB); the Resilience Scale; and a sociodemographic profile and lifestyle questionnaire were used. Descriptive analyzes of absolute and relative frequency distribution, mean, median, and standard deviation were performed. The sample consisted of 148 active police officers and the results showed that the majority were male (85.10%), married (60.10%), had completed higher education (59.50%), and were, on average, 31.95 years old (SD 6.05). Emotional scales indicated that most police officers had a normal classification for depression (59.90%), anxiety (76.10%), stress (72.50%), Burnout Syndrome (80.20%), and 76.70% were resilient. Although most of the police officers had obtained a normal classification for the factors evaluated, a significant illness index was identified. These data suggest the need to implement interventions aimed at preventing and promoting the mental health of the military police officer.

Dada a natureza do trabalho, a profissão de policial militar é uma das ocupações consideradas como potencialmente geradora sofrimento psíquico, sendo que esse adoecimento pode trazer consequências para a sua vida, trabalho e sociedade. Diante disso, o presente trabalho visou apresentar uma medida de adoecimento emocional e investigar os fatores associados ao adoecimento de policiais militares de uma cidade do interior de Minas Gerais. Participaram do estudo 128 policiais, que responderam a um questionário sociodemográfico e de hábitos de vida, a Escala de Depressão, Ansiedade e Stress (DASS 21), o Inventário de Avaliação da Síndrome do Burnout (ISB) e a Escala de Resiliência. Foram realizadas análises descritivas (distribuição de frequência absoluta e relativa, média, mediana, desvio-padrão) bivariadas (correlação de Spearman, qui-quadrado) e regressão logística. Foram considerados adoecidos os policiais que apresentavam sintomas severos e extremamente severos de depressão ou aqueles que apresentavam níveis entre moderados e extremamente severos de sintomas depressivos, mas também apresentavam burnout. Os resultados identificaram um quadro de adoecimento em 14,80% dos militares avaliados. Além disso mostraram que stress, insatisfação com o trabalho, pior percepção sobre a saúde mental e nível de resiliência foram os fatores associados ao desenvolvimento do adoecimento. Os estudos mostraram a importância de investigar o estado emocional dos policiais, bem como a necessidade de que intervenções sejam implementadas com esses profissionais. Focar as intervenções no desenvolvimento da resiliência e satisfação com o trabalho dos profissionais pode ser uma forma de melhorar a saúde emocional desses trabalhadores.

Given the nature of the work, the military police officer profession is one of the occupations considered as potentially generating psychic suffering, and this illness can have consequences for their life, work, and for society. Therefore, the present study aimed to present a measure of emotional illness and to investigate the factors associated with the illness of military police officers from a city in the interior of Minas Gerais. A total of 128 police officers, who responded to a sociodemographic and lifestyle questionnaire; the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21); the Burnout Syndrome Assessment Inventory (ISB); and the Resilience Scale took part in the study. Descriptive analyzes (absolute and relative frequency distribution, mean, median, standard deviation), bivariate (Spearman's correlation, chi-square), and logistic regression were performed. Those who had severe and extremely severe symptoms of depression or those who had moderate to extremely severe levels of depressive symptoms, but also showed burnout, were considered to be ill. The results identified an illness framework in 14.80% of the military police officers evaluated. In addition, they showed that stress, job dissatisfaction, worse perception about mental health, and level of resilience were the factors associated with the development of illness. The studies showed the importance of investigating the emotional state of the police officers, as well as the need for interventions with these professionals to be implemented. Focusing interventions on developing resilience and satisfaction with professionals’ job can be a way to improve the emotional health of these workers.