Police Mental Health in Ghana: Examining the Effects of Personality and Police Rank

The effect of the stress on the mental health of the police is frequently reported in the psychological literature. In this research, we examined mental health among police officers in a metropolitan city in Ghana. We also examined the moderating effect of personality on the relation between police rank (status) and mental health. We studied police officers (N = 173, males = 76.3%, mean age = 35.6 years; SD = 7.52) who have served for at least 2 years and were between the police ranks of Constable and Chief Inspector. We administered the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Personality Inventory. We found that between 50 and 70% had normal scores and between 1 and 4% had scores in the severe and extremely severe range on the mental health measures. We also found that neuroticism and conscientiousness strengthened the relation between police rank and mental health among sergeants and inspectors but not among lower ranked officers. Individuals with high conscientiousness and low neuroticism had better mental health outcomes on depression and stress. Implications for recruitment into the police services have been discussed.