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The Costs of Policing: Psychosocial Capital and Mental Health Outcomes in a Nigeria Police Sample

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2015

Oluyinka Ojedokun  and
Shyngle K. Balogun
Oluyinka Ojedokun*
Affiliation:
Adekunle Ajasin University (Nigeria)
Shyngle K. Balogun
Affiliation:
University of Ibadan (Nigeria)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Oluyinka Ojedokun, Adekunle Ajasin University - Pure & Applied Psychology, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences. PMB 01. Akungba Akoko Akungba-Akoko Ondo (Nigeria). 324111. Phone: +2348056325953. E-mail: yinkaoje2004@yahoo.com, yinkaoje2009@gmail.com
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Abstract

This study examined the influence of psychosocial capital (psychological and workplace social capital) on mental health outcomes among 340 police personnel in Nigeria. Data were collected via anonymously completed questionnaires. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling, and the results revealed that in the context of stress and traumatic stress, resilience p < .05, optimism p < .05, self-efficacy p < .05, hope p < .05, and workplace social capital p < .05 can influence the development of mental health problems or adaptation. The findings imply that it is important that both researchers and police organization pay attention to how psychological capital influence the development of psychopathology or resilience and how such issues can be addressed through psychological training in the workplace.

Keywords

mental health outcomespsychological capitalworkplace social capitalpolice personnelNigeria
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 18 , 2015 , E78
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2015 

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