Evaluation of health parameters among prison officers: a focus on musculoskeletal problems, fatigue, and psychological well-being

Abstract

Aim Prison officers often face significant health challenges due to the demanding nature of their work, including prolonged interactions with inmates in confined and stressful environments. This study aimed to evaluate the musculoskeletal problems, fatigue, sleep quality, depression levels, and quality of life of prison officers in a Turkish prison and to examine the relationships among these variables. Subject and methods The study included 141 volunteer prison officers. Musculoskeletal problems were assessed with the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaires, fatigue with the Fatigue Severity Scale, sleep quality with the visual analogue scale, depression with the Beck Depression Inventory, and quality of life with the Nottingham Health Profile. Results Participants comprised 25.5% female and 74.5% male officers. The average age was 32.87 +/- 9.56 years, and average professional experience was 8.57 +/- 7.91 years. Neck and knee pain were the most frequently reported musculoskeletal complaints. Pathological fatigue was identified in 61% of participants, and 53.2% showed various levels of depression. Women reported significantly poorer sleep quality and lower quality of life than men (p < 0.05). Smokers had higher levels of depression and musculoskeletal complaints and lower sleep quality and quality of life than nonsmokers. Conclusion Closed and stressful working conditions place prison officers at increased risk for musculoskeletal disorders, fatigue, depression, and reduced quality of life. High levels of musculoskeletal complaints-particularly in the neck, knees, hips, and back-were observed. Female officers and officers who smoked had poorer health outcomes. On the basis of these findings, targeted preventive measures such as ergonomic improvements, sleep hygiene education, and preventive physiotherapy interventions may help reduce these health risks.