Physical activity and factors associated with suicidal ideation in military police officers from Sergipe, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the association between anthropometric characteristics, occupational status, physical activity level, and suicidal ideation among military police in Aracaju and the Metropolitan Region, Brazil. 254 active male and female military policemen, aged between 21 and 55 years, participated in the study. 254 military police participated in the study. Data were collected through Google Forms, containing questions about sociodemographic, anthropometric, occupational characteristics, and risk behaviours. Military officers with less service were four times more likely to experience profound sadness in the past 12 months (OR = 0.22; 95% CI 0.09-0.51), and older officers three times more likely (OR = 3.12; 95% CI 1.64-7.97). Police officers who worked alternate day shifts were four times more likely to have planned suicide in the past 12 months (OR = 4.67; 95% CI 1.08-20.16), and police officers with less time on duty had seven times more chances (OR = 0.13; 95% CI 0.26-0.64). It is observed that labour characteristics are associated with suicidal ideation. It is also perceived that physical activity is a protective factor against profound sadness.