Directions for future research on police stress: the role of hyper-vigilance and emotion regulation in understanding and preventing detrimental outcomes for mental health

Purpose Policing is a stressful occupation which increases the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to highlight the primary areas of focus in research to date, and propose future directions which could significantly enhance our understanding of how to protect the well-being of police officers and staff. Design/methodology/approach In this narrative review, the authors draw on research from cognitive psychology to illustrate some of the possible mechanisms by which police stressors impact mental health. The authors also examine the potential role of emotion regulation in mitigating those harmful effects. Findings An attentional bias for threatening/aversive stimuli represents an adaptive strategy that is conducive to avoiding harm. However, exposure to chronic or acute stress, as well as dispositional factors (e.g. trait anxiety), has the potential to disrupt the delicate balance that exists in the threat-monitoring system, leading to hyper-vigilance and increased vulnerability to mental health conditions such as PTSD. Conversely, certain emotion regulation strategies appear to modulate the allocation of attentional resources to threatening/aversive stimuli, reducing the extent to which they are subject to elaborative processing and enhancing subjective well-being. Practical implications The authors illustrate how the application of cognitive-experimental methods could directly inform the development of strategies and interventions aimed promoting positive outcomes for mental health. Originality/value Cognitive-experimental methods remain under-used in research on police stress and well-being. By drawing on research conducted with other populations, the authors provide novel suggestions for the application of these techniques to policing contexts.