Objective Police work has been identified as one of society´s most stressful occupations. The exposure to stressors over time can lead to several problems to the individual (physical and psychological health) as well as to the police force and other citizens. It is therefore crucial to have a proactive, well trained, dedicated, and healthy police force that performs to the best of their ability or, in other words, engaged police officers.Despite previous research recommendations, few longitudinal studies have compared stress and coping among police officers in academy and one year later on duty. Furthermore, reduced number of studies has investigated acute stress among police officers in real world conditions in Europe.In this way, SCOPE shall fulfil these gaps in the literature by proposing a novel and interdisciplinary approach combining expertise in psychology, engineering and computer science from collaborators at the University of Porto (UP). The longitudinal method will assess stress and coping among recruit police officers in academy and one year later on duty. Furthermore, SCOPE shall leverage the fellow´s previous research experience and collaborations at UP to analyse the nature of acute stressors, stress reactivity and coping strategies in real world conditions using a real-life system combining non-intrusive, user friendly technology and a Virtual Reality environment.SCOPE is based on a protocol between PSP (Public Security Police, Portugal) and FPCEUP (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, UP) and has received ethical approval by both institutions.It is believed that the novel findings will assist in the development of practical interventions enhancing a better training and performing, healthier police force and impact the safeguard of the European community. SCOPE will add an outstanding contribution to the European Union research excellence, and further develops the fellow career and her potential professional integration at UP. Fields of science social scienceseducational sciencessocial sciencespsychologynatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationsvirtual reality Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG - Marie-Curie Action: "Career Integration Grants" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG) Coordinator UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO Address Praca gomes teixeira 4099-002 Porto Portugal See on map Region Continente Norte Área Metropolitana do Porto Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Célia Cardoso (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data
