Symptoms of Undercover Police Officers: A Comparison of Officers Currently, Formerly, and Without Undercover Experience

Kevin G. Love, John Vinson, James Tolsma, Gary Kaufmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

A cross-sectional descriptive study of the presence of 54 psychological, physical, behavioral, and emotional (i.e., clinical) symptoms was completed using 3 samples of police officers: current undercover officers, former undercover officers, and officers without undercover policing experience. Chi-square analyses indicated that current undercover officers reported significantly fewer clinical symptoms than the other samples. Former undercover officers reported significantly higher frequencies of 15 clinical symptoms. Symptom patterns were reviewed and explained in terms of adjustment/readjustment to the undercover assignment, denial of symptoms, and buffers to the impact of potential occupational stressors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)136-152
Number of pages17
JournalInternational Journal of Stress Management
Volume15
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2008

Keywords

  • policing
  • psychological symptoms
  • undercover

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