Shift-work and suicide ideation among police officers

This cross-sectional study assessed the association of shift work with suicide ideation among police officers.

Shift work was based on daily payroll records over 5 years (41 women, 70 men). Standardized psychological measures were employed. ANOVA and Poisson regression were used to evaluate associations.

Among policewomen with increased depressive symptoms, prevalence of suicide ideation increased by 116% for every 10-unit increase in percentage of hours worked on day shift (prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.22-3.71). Among policemen with higher (but not lower) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, prevalence of suicide ideation increased by 13% with every 10-unit increase in the percentage of hours worked on afternoon shift (PR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.00-1.22).

Prevalence of suicide ideation significantly increased among policewomen with higher depressive symptoms and increasing day shift hours, and among policemen with higher PTSD symptoms with increasing afternoon shift hours.