Mental Health and Physical Activity Level in Military Police Officers from Sergipe, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to analyse the association between the level of physical activity and mental health indicators in this population. A total of 254 military police officers, male and female, aged between 21 and 55, participated in military battleships and police companies in the metropolitan region of Aracaju, Sergipe. They responded to an assessment form, available online, on Google Forms, containing questions about socio-demographic, anthropometric and occupational characteristics, quality of sleep (Pittsburgh scale), stress (EPS-10), anxiety and depression (HAD scale), Exhaustion syndrome (MBI - GS), suicidal ideation (YRBSS - adapted), and Physical Activity level (IPAQ-short). Officers classified as “insufficiently active” had a higher risk for “burnout syndrome” (OR = 2.49; CI: 95% 1.42-4.43) and a greater feeling of “deep sadness” (OR = 1.85; CI: 95% 1.03-3.33) compared with physically active colleagues. In addition, longer service time was a protective factor against anxiety (OR = 0.30; CI: 95% 0.13-0.68), burnout syndrome (OR = 0.28; CI: 95% 0.12 -0.67) and deep sadness (OR = 0.25; CI: 95% 0.11-0.57). Older officers are more likely to be affected by “deep sadness” (OR = 2.80; CI: 95% 1.37-5.71). It was concluded that physical activity is associated with changes in the mental health of the police officers evaluated.