August 16, 2025

Mental and physical health impacts of policing in a remote location: A cross-sectional study from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

Key Points

Policemen in Andaman and Nicobar Islands experience significant health issues, as 17.8% are diabetic and 47.3% have hypertension.
A concerning 61.2% of policemen are overweight or obese, with nearly two-thirds reporting moderate stress from operational and organizational pressures.
Using the Police Stress Questionnaire, the study analyzed data from 2144 policemen, revealing associations between stress and demographic factors.
Findings highlight the need for focused health interventions for police personnel, as they face more health challenges than the general population.

Abstract

Policing involves a huge responsibility of protecting the citizens against crimes, and working in stressful conditions which affects health adversely. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the health profile and stress of policemen in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) of India. A total of 2144 policemen working in ANI for at least 6 months were included in this cross-sectional study. The Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) was used to assess operational and organizational stress. SPSS version 24 was used for analysis. Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and ANOVA tests were used to further analyse the data. Among the participants, 17.8% had diabetes, 47.3% had hypertension, 61.2% were overweight/obese, 42.7% had hemoglobin levels <12.5 g/dL and 38.9% had a history of one or more substance use. Nearly two-thirds had moderate stress due to operational and organizational reasons, while one-third had high stress. A positive family history, higher rank of officers, and increased age were associated with these morbidities. Lower age, male sex, increased hours of duty, no monthly holidays, and lack of physical activity or meditation were significantly associated with increased stress. A longer duration of service and higher rank were associated with increased operational and organizational stress, respectively. Policemen working in ANI have more mental stress and lifestyle diseases than the general population and need focused remedial steps for better health outcomes.

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