Divorce numbers among law enforcement personnel have long been a topic of scrutiny and debate, and studies show that officers experience the decline of a marriage more often than other professions.
Several factors are to blame, but they are all important to keep in mind, especially if you work in law enforcement.
High-stress
Law enforcement is a high-stress field and there is no doubt about that. The nature of their work is inherently stressful and officers often encounter traumatic experiences.
Many people think that if they are exposed to trauma regularly, it somehow affects them less, but research shows that the more a person is exposed to a traumatic situation, whether violent crimes, accidents or fatalities, the more likelihood that person has of developing mental health issues, such as PTSD, Anxiety and Depression.
Shift work
Police jobs often require individuals to work in shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays. These irregular hours can hurt the body, which will always try to return to its natural rhythm, and can be directly harmful to family relationships, especially marriages, as the officers are unable to spend quality time with their spouses and families.
Public scrutiny
The role of officers in law enforcement is often under public scrutiny, especially when important cases relating to police violence or incidents involving law enforcement make the news. Officers face pressure everywhere they turn, and when their role is questioned, in addition to everything else, it can feel like everything is against them.
Culture
The law enforcement culture can be closed, male-dominated and not one where individuals are encouraged to discuss and process their emotions. This emotional toughness and the refusal to acknowledge the entire person can lead to exhaustion and burnout very quickly. Police must have healthy outlets to process their feelings and people to talk to about the things they see and go through.
Finances
The financial strain of a law enforcement officer’s salary can be an added strain that impacts their marriage, especially if the other spouse has to stay home and cannot work because of the officer spouse’s schedule. Families living on one salary can struggle, especially in big cities.
While divorce happens in all industries and lines of work, there is a clear increase in the number of divorces among law enforcement personnel. It is critical to understand why, not only so people can be thoughtful about their relationships, but also so they can seek the help they need when they need it.
