engleski

Croatian police officers’ satisfaction with running workout program as improvement tool for police performance

Introduction: Running as well as exercise in general beside physical improves mental health (Skead & Rogers, 2016) and cognitive abilities (Rassovsky & Alfassi, 2019 ; Cotman, Christie & Brechtold, 2007) which are very important for police work. The aim of this study was to analyze police officers’ satisfaction and perceived benefit of running workout program regarding their mental health and performance. Method: First, the whole group participated in an assessment of the 1000-meter run, and participants were assigned to experimental or active control group based on their score. Participants were divided into groups in such a way that it was possible and practical to implement training program, while two groups were similar in most measured characteristics. Former sport experience was also taken into account (measured at baseline by questionnaire created for the purpose of this research).The study was conducted on 31 subjects (14 experimental, 17 control group). After the completion of the 8-week program the respondents completed evaluation questionnaire. It was consisted of 9 questions (satisfaction with program ; satisfaction with the organization ; satisfaction with the trainer ; program usefulness - psychological wellbeing ; program usefulness - physical wellbeing ; motivation to continue with exercise ; program usefulness - job performance ; program usefulness - mental health) on which respondents answered using 5 point Likert scale with the possibility of written comment to each question. 4 final questions (applying reasons ; most useful segments ; disappointments ; group functioning) were open ended. Results: All of the officers were highly satisfied with the program. Only for two questions the mean was below 4, 5 (physical wellbeing ; continuation with workout). On other questions mean was above 4, 8. Subjects consider program very useful for police performance and mental health. Officers were highly satisfied with the program in general and its organization. They perceived that the program improved their psychological wellbeing. Man – Whitney U test showed that the only statistically significant difference between experimental and control group was the motivation to continue with the running workout in the favor of the experimental group. Conclusion: Police officers were very satisfied with the conducted running program. They perceive it very useful for police work, performance and mental health. This research implicates that officers are interested in these kinds of programs which should be provided to officers as a good mean to improve their performance and mental health.

police ; running ; workout ; performance ; health

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