Stress, tobacco smoking and other addictive behaviours in the police force
Résumé
Research achieved in police environment show that functions of police officers (PO) and members of the state police force (MSPF) represent an important source of stress. The aim of our research resides in a better understanding of the action of tobacco addiction as a psychic and physical self-medication of the stress generated by the PO and MSPF occupation. The population is composed of 134 PO (of a central police station) and MSPF (of a departmental state police force legion) aged of 20 to 50: 39 PO and 19 MSPF smokers (nine women, 49 men); 52 PO and 24 MSPF non smokers (six women, 70 men). Several measures were used for the assessment: Fagerström test for nicotine dependence; Psychological and behavioral tobacco dependence test; Toulouse stress scale. The results show that smoking subjects are more under stress and have more addictive behaviors than non smokers. Gender is in interaction with tobacco, stress and addictive behaviors. Finally, risk factors of the production of stress and addictive behaviors come out. Tobacco addiction could act as a self-medication in regulating the emotions.