Perceived stress and mental health during the pandemic of COVID-19: an examination of Taiwanese police officers

PurposeThis study aims to examine Taiwanese male and female police officers' perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachData were analyzed based on surveys conducted with 1,671 officers in various cities and counties between May and July of 2021, during the period of level 3 alert of COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan.FindingsIt was found that officers who perceived poor inter-agency coordination and higher risk of infection, and those who were assigned to home quarantine duty and stationed in the metropolitan areas of Taipei, which suffered the worst spread of infected cases, were more likely to exhibit a higher level of stress. On the other hand, police identity, COVID-19 self-legitimacy, supervisor support, COVID-19 information and adaptive emotion regulation were found to be associated with an enhanced level of mental health.Research limitations/implicationsThe surveys were conducted at the beginning of the community outbreak. Given the cross sectional nature of the data, the findings may not reflect officers' mental health at different phases of the pandemic.Originality/valueSuch study can add a cross-national perspective that can be utilized to generalize about policy perspectives related to police mental health at times of health crises, such as COVID-19 pandemic.

Mask reuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey in Taiwan

Background The use of masks is an effective measure to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection;however, mask reuse is not recommended. Studies examining the factors associated with mask reuse during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are limited. This nationwide survey aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with mask reuse among Taiwanese citizens during the pandemic. Methods From May 18 through May 31, 2020, a computer-assisted telephone interview system was used to randomly select Taiwanese citizens who were interviewed for COVID-19 preventive behaviors and knowledge on the usage of masks. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with mask reuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze the rate of mask reuse among participants before and during the pandemic. Results For a total of 1,075 participants, the overall mean age was 57.4 years, and 82.2% of participants reported mask reuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. After controlling for other covariates, participants who had a greater knowledge on mask usage or had a high supply of masks were less likely to reuse masks during the pandemic. GEE analysis showed that compared with the participants' mask wearing behaviors before the COVID-19 pandemic, they were more likely to reuse masks during the pandemic. Conclusions The rate of mask reuse among the general population during the pandemic was significantly higher than that before the pandemic. Individuals were less likely to reuse masks if they had adequate knowledge on mask usage or had a high supply of masks. Since mask reuse is associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 due to the possibility of wearing SAS-CoV-2-contaminated masks, it is imperative to educate people on the correct usage of masks. Further, the government should provide sufficient masks to the general population to decrease the reuse of masks. Key messages Mask reuse increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the shortage in supply. It is imperative to educate people about the correct usage of masks.