State police officer sleep patterns and fast food consumption

Abstract

This study provides one of the first assessments of sleep patterns and fast food consumption among a sample of State police officers. Amounts of sleep and fast food consumed and the predictors of such are identified. Data are collected from surveys of all sworn members of one State police agency. State police officers get less than the recommended amount of sleep and eat an average of four fast food meals weekly. Significant predictors of sleep include participation in intramural sports, health self-assessment, higher consumption of stimulant drinks and shift worked. Predictors of fast food consumption are age, health self-assessment and higher consumption of stimulant drinks. This is the first study to focus on State police sleep and diet with an emphasis on identifying correlates of both. By identifying the predictors of officer sleep and fast food consumption the researchers are able to make several law enforcement policy recommendations that may improve officer health and wellness, and subsequently, officer performance.

Keywords

Officer fast food consumption officer health and wellness officer sleep law enforcement policy

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