Media distortion, behavioral adjustment and occupational stress: the moderating effect of self-legitimacy among Chinese police officers

Purpose The main purpose of this study is to examine the perceived self-media distortion’s direct and indirect effects on police job stress through behavioral adjustments. Design/methodology/approach Using survey data collected from 1,900 police officers in a northern Chinese province, we tested a moderated mediation model featuring the moderating effect of perceived self-legitimacy on the relationships between perceived self-media distortion and stress. Findings We found that perceived self-media distortion is directly and indirectly connected to officers’ stress via adjusting behaviors. In addition, the positive relationship between perceived distortion and adjustment is weaker among officers with greater perception of self-legitimacy, whereas the positive association between adjustment and stress is stronger among those with higher levels of perceived self-legitimacy. Research limitations/implications Our study relied on a convenience sample of officers from a single Chinese province. We also lacked official data on police officers in the two cities examined within the province and were unable to accurately assess the representativeness of our sample. More officer-centered stress relief initiatives focusing on reducing media-induced stress should be developed and implemented. Officers should be encouraged to practice self-care activities, curate their social media feeds and practice mindfulness while consuming media and managing their exposure to potentially stressful content. Originality/value This study extends recent research on the impact of negative publicity on the police by further assessing officers’ experiences with behavioral adjustments and psychological stress simultaneously. It also expands the research on officer psychological readiness by investigating whether self-legitimacy (e.g. self-recognition of their entitlement to the legal authority) can moderate the associations between media distortion, behavioral adjustments and job stress.