This study attemted to explain the reasons behind the factors affecting maritime police officers’ depression by examining existent explanatory models of depression and job characteristics in maritime police. In other words, along with integrating previous research, primary purpose of this study was to analyze the main factor of maritime police officers’ depression and suggest alternative ideas about welfare policies.
For the above research purpose, this study sets four independent variables, which are negative life events, social supports, job characteristics in maritime police and stress vulnerability. Dependent variable was depression of maritime police officers. Method of analysis was multiple regression analysis.
Summary of results of this study are as follows.
First, negative life events had a statistically significant positive effect on depression. So, maritime police officers who had experience more negative life events were more depressed than others.
Second, social supports had a statistically significant negative effect on depression. The sub-factor that had most influence on depression was social trust. So, maritime police officers who had experience more social support from family, friends and relatives were less depressed than others.
Third, some sub-variables of job characteristics in maritime police had statistically significant effects on depression. Working type and career path had statistically significant negative effects on depression. But awareness level of danger in job had statistically significant positive effects on depression. The sub-factor that had most influence on depression was awareness level of danger in job.
Fourth, stress vulnerability had a statistically significant positive effect on depression. So, the more stress vulnerable maritime police officers were more depressed than others.
Last, the factor that had most influence on maritime police officers’ depression was stress vulnerability.