Policing, stress and coping: a characterization study with Oporto Portuguese Security Police Officers

Abstract Policing is associated with numerous stressors and challenges inherent to the demands of the profession. This study examined levels of perceived stress and psychological counselling-seeking among police officers in Oporto and investigated the contribution of sociodemographic, coping, and emotional experience variables to stress outcomes. An online survey was administered to squads of the Portuguese National Police (N = 123), including the PSS-10, ERQ, and RDEES scales. Over one-third of the officers reported elevated stress levels, yet only 16.7 per cent of those above the clinical threshold had sought counselling. Higher perceived stress was significantly associated with greater emotional suppression and broader emotional range, whereas emotional differentiation showed a potential protective effect. No other significant predictors emerged, including cognitive reappraisal or other sociodemographic and occupational factors, such as years of service, rank, and education. Similarly, none of our variables predicted counselling seeking. Emotion-related processes explained substantially more variance in stress than occupational or sociodemographic variables, reinforcing prior research linking suppression coping to poorer mental health outcomes in policing. These findings underscore the relevance of interventions targeting emotional awareness, adaptive coping, and organizational strategies that reduce mental health stigma and structural barriers to help-seeking, particularly among operational officers. Future research should prioritize systemic, multi-level approaches to support well-being within police organizations.