*3.2.5 Objective physiological police stress results*

As previously cited in Planche et al. [10], ANOVA comparisons for betweengroup diurnal cortisol differences revealed that police officers had significantly higher levels of cortisol at all collected time points in comparison to the general population (p < 0.05). In comparison to frontline officers, tactical officers displayed significantly higher levels of cortisol at awakening and 30 minutes post-awakening in comparison to the frontline officers (p < 0.05), non-significantly different levels 11-hours post (p > 0.05), and significantly lower levels of cortisol at 17 h post (p < 0.05) (See **Figure 1**).

#### **Figure 1.**

*Overview of diurnal salivary cortisol relationships across 17 h from waking in frontline police (n = 52), tactical police (n = 44), and the general population (n = 18,698). Adapted from Planche et al., 2019.*

**121**

**3.3 Discussion**

**Figure 2.**

*Physiological Stress Responses Associated with High-Risk Occupational Duties*

Using Wilcoxon rank sum testing, frontline officers self-reported significantly higher total levels of operational stress in comparison to tactical officers (MedianFrontline = 56, IQR = 33; MedianTactical = 44, IQR = 16; p < 0.05) with small

When comparing the means across PSQ-Op items (See **Table 1**), the two groups had the largest magnitude differences (ΔMean), with frontline reporting greater stress, on: negative comments from the public, upholding a "higher image" in public, over-time demands, and lack of understanding from family and friends about work. Furthermore, these four items fell within the six lowest reported sources of operational stress for tactical officers. In comparison, tactical officers reported more objective risk items such as being injured on the job, traumatic events, and working alone at night as higher levels of stress in comparison to frontline. For both groups, fatigue, paperwork, and not enough time available to spend with family were ranked

The aim of the current study was to discern potential differences of tactical and frontline police officers' subjective self-reported stress, and the relationship to objective occupational hazard profiles. It was expected that, similar to previous findings of police objective stress (i.e., diurnal salivary cortisol), officers from tactical teams would report significantly higher levels of subjective stress on the PSQ-Op in comparison to frontline officers. However, in contrast to our hypotheses, Wilcoxon rank sum testing revealed that 1) frontline officers reported significantly

*Boxplot distribution of police (frontline and tactical) total scores on the PSQ-Op. Frontline officers selfreported significantly higher total levels of operational stress in comparison to tactical officers (p < 0.05).*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93943*

*3.2.6 Subjective police stress results*

effect (r = 0.26) (See **Figure 2**).

among the highest sources of stress.

*Physiological Stress Responses Associated with High-Risk Occupational Duties DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93943*
