• Mr.Siddharth Yashwant Sakhare
• Mrs.Reshma Bodhak

Police is the one of most considerable and important profession in the world. To stop crimes from happening and to bring convicts to justice and to help people out who may need help, maybe with some legal issue, these are the main duties of policemen, and they are important for are important for the more fact they protect and serve the public. Occupation of police is highly stressful as they always have to face challenges to their life by taking risk in their daily work. Occupation stress among police officers is often viewed as an unfortunate, but inevitable part of police work. The assumption that the police work is one of the most stressful occupations has been supported by an important body of literature about stress in law enforcement profession. National level of police stress in qualitative analysis had illustrated that 35% of officers had faced difficulty in management related issues with seniors in comparison with almost similar percentage of inspectors, that is 30%; moreover, 25% of them had problem in managing colleagues and 40% of them had faced difficulty in managing the behaviour of their subordinates. Political interference (90%), long and odd work hours (80%), change in priorities (70%). The main cause of stress as perceived by the respondents are political pressure (73.5%), lack of time for family (67.3%), non-cooperation from public and negative public image (63.4%), and low salary (55.6%). In addition, a large number of them also referred other causes like lack of govt. support (45.6%), work load (56.8%), frequent transfer (65.7%), lack of organizational and departmental support (46.7%) and torture by senior officers (66.8%). A study to identify the factors influencing symptoms of stress among police personnel suggests that social support, ways of coping, self-efficacy, hardiness and work stress are significantly influencing factors on symptoms of stress among police person. So, the investigator would like to assess the stress level among police personnel.2 Guided imagery can quickly calm your body and simultaneously relax your mind. It's pleasant to practice, and not overly difficult or intimidating to learn. And it can help you to de-stress in minutes, but can also be a useful strategy for maintaining resilience toward stress during difficult times. Guided Imagery is a convenient and simple relaxation technique that can help you quickly and easily manage stress and reduce tension in your body. It’s virtually as easy as indulging in a vivid daydream and, with practice, this technique can help you to better access your inner wisdom. If this sounds like something you can use in your life, read more about when guided imagery is used, and how it may be a useful go-to stress reliever for you. Here, we'll examine the benefits and drawbacks of this simple and engaging stress management technique and explore how it compares to other methods so you can determine how guided imagery may fit into your life.Guided imagery has been found to provide significant stress reduction benefits, including physically relaxing the body quickly and efficiently and even helping participants get in touch with deeper levels of wisdom (held on a subconscious level) that would help them better manage their lives in ways that would reduce stress. The studies demonstrating the health benefits of imagery are so numerous that many hospitals are incorporating imagery as an option to help with treatment. Fortunately, it's a simple enough technique that it can be used at home as well, with positive results. Imagery can provide relaxation, insight, and wisdom. It can help you to relieve physical tension and psychological stress at the same time, distracting you from what may be stressing you, and getting you into a more positive frame of mind. For the benefits it provides, it’s an excellent stress management option. It can be easier than exercise or yoga for those with physical limitations. It has no risk of side effects like some medical and herbal therapies. Using it for simple relaxation is easy and can be done by just about anyone. It’s similar to self-hypnosis in that you’re getting into a deep state of relaxation and dealing with your subconscious mind. However, with self-hypnosis, you’re more often implanting ideas into your subconscious mind, whereas imagery focuses more on extracting ideas from it. Guided imagery techniques work to help people relax for several reasons. As is the case with many techniques, they involve an element of distraction which serves to redirect people's attention away from what is stressing them and towards an alternative focus. The techniques are in essence a non-verbal instruction or direct suggestion to the body and unconscious mind to act "as though" the peaceful, safe and beautiful (and thus relaxing) environment were real. Finally, guided imagery can work through the associative process described above, where scenes become a learned cue or trigger that helps recall memories and sensations resulting from past relaxation practice3. Background of study Bengt B. Arnetz, Eamonn Arble; International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health volume 86, pages79–88(2013).To determine the efficacy of a primary prevention program designed to improve psychobiological responses to stress among urban police officers .A random sample of 37 police cadets received complementary training in psychological and technical techniques to reduce anxiety and enhance performance when facing a series of police critical incidents. Training was done by Special Forces officers, trained by the authors in imaging. A random sample of 38 cadets, receiving training as usual, was followed in parallel. Assessment of somatic and psychological health, and stress biomarkers, was done at baseline, immediately following training, and after 18 months as regular police officers. Comparison was done using two-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) and logistic regression. The intervention group improved their general health and problem-based coping as compared to the control group. They also demonstrated lower levels of stomach problems, sleep difficulties, and exhaustion. Training was associated with an OR of 4.1 (95% CI, 1.3–13.7; p < 0.05) for improved GHQ scores during the study as compared to no changes or worsening score. This first primary prevention study of high-risk professions demonstrates the validity and functional utility of the intervention. Beneficial effects lasted at least during the first 2 years on the police force. It is suggested that preventive imagery training in first responders might contribute to enhanced resiliency4. Problem statement: - Effectiveness of guided imagery on level of stress among police working in selected police stations of the city in a view to develop an information booklet. Objectives of the study: - 1. To assess the level of stress among police working in selected police stations of the city. 2. To assess the effect of guided imagery on level of stress among police working in the selected police stations of the city. 3. To associate the pre-test knowledge score with selected demographic variables. Research question: What is the effect of guided imagery on level of stress among police? METHODOLOGY: - Research approach: - Quantitative research approach. Research design: - Pre-Experimental One Group Pre-test and Post-test research design. Sampling technique: - Non probability purposive sampling technique was used for selection of the sample. Setting: - Selected police stations of the city. SAMPLE SIZE: - 60. VALIDITY: Validity was done by 11 experts. The content validity index is calculated by the using formula of content validity ratio CVR= Item wise (ne-N/2) / (N/2) and CVI for this tool validity is 0.91 it shows that tool is valid. RELIABILITY: Reliability measurement of effect of guided imagery on level of stress by Test re-test method is 0.7645875 it shows that tool is reliable. After reliability pilot study was conducted on 06 samples it shows that study is feasible to conduct on large sample. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION : -Informed consent will be obtained from the concerned Subjects & Authority -Privacy, Confidentiality and Anonymity will be guarded. -Scientific objectivity of the study will be maintained with honest and impartiality. RESULT SECTION – I: DESCRIPTION OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA OF POLICE. AGE According to young adults age group 19 to 22 years group having highest percentages (60.50%), age group 22 to 26 having 35 % of distribution and age group 26 to 30 having 04.05% of distribution. GENDER According to gender of young adults (51.50 %) are Males and (48.50%) are Females. TYPE OF FAMILY According to type of young adults’ family maximum percentage 75% of police are belong to nuclear family, 25% are belongs to joint family. FAMILY INCOME MONTHLY According to monthly family income of Police maximum Police 50% are from family having income Rs. 30,000 and above, 45% are from family having income Rs. 25,000 to 30,000, 5% are from family having income Rs. 20,000 to 25,000. TYPE OF SHIFT According to type of shift distribution of Police shows that highest percentage 63.33% are having three shift pattern and 36.67% of the respondents had fixed shift. PERSONAL HABIT According to personal habit distribution depicts that highest percentage 54% of respondents did not have any habit and 23% of the respondents had habit of consumption of alcohol and 23% percentage of respondents had habit of tobacco chewing. ANY RELAXATION THERAPY UNDERGOING Percentage wise distribution of respondents according to if any relaxation therapy going on; shows the result that all 100 % of respondents did not have any relaxation therapy going on. SECTION II: ASSESSMENT OF LEVEL OF STRESS AMONG POLICE WORKING IN SELECTED POLICE STATIONS OF THE CITY. According to level of stress among police depicts that highest percentage 11.66% of some were having mild level (Score 15-30) of stress and 80% of them having moderate level (Score 31-45) of stress and 8.34% having severe level (Score 46-60) of level of stress. SECTION III: ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF GUIDED IMAGERY ON LEVEL OF STRESS AMONG POLICE WORKING IN SELECTED POLICE STATIONS OF THE CITY. Percentage wise distribution of pre-test and post-test level of stress of respondents depicts that highest percentage in pre-test (48), (80%) of them had moderate stress and in post-test (54%) of the respondents had mild stress. Hence it can be interpreted that guided imagery was effective in improving the level of stress among police. SECTION IV: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN STUDY FINDINGS WITH SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES. Researcher applied Chi-square test for association between level of stress with demographic variables. Chi-square values for this test are respectively for Age is (p=0.7673), for Gender is (p=0.7032), for Type of family is (p=0.5979), for Family monthly income is (p=0.3952), for duty shift is (p=0.2692), for personal habit is (p= 0.8894) and for any relaxation therapy is (p=0.000). There is no significant association found between the level of stress and demographic variables like Age of police, Gender, type of family, monthly family income, duty shifts of police. Paired ‘t’ value of pre and post-test level of stress score of respondents t value was calculated to analyse the difference in pre-test and post-test stress score of participants. Highly significant difference was found between pre and post-test stress score of respondents after giving guided imagery. (t = 26.040) and (p value=0.0001) Conclusion The focus of this study was to assess Effectiveness of guided imagery on level of stress among police and to provide information booklet regarding stress and stress management. The study provided deeper insight and empathy towards the needs of police. The expert guidance from the guide and cooperation of teachers has made the study a fruitful and pleasant experience.

Stress, Guided Imagery.

"Effectiveness of guided imagery on level of stress among police in selected police stations of the city in a view to develop an information booklet", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 2, page no.d822-d827, February-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2502391.pdf

"Effectiveness of guided imagery on level of stress among police in selected police stations of the city in a view to develop an information booklet", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 2, page no. ppd822-d827, February-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2502391.pdf