The Mediating Role of Mental Health in the Relationship Between Job Stress and Job Satisfaction Among Bangladeshi Police Personnel

Police personnel face unique occupational challenges that place them at elevated risk for stress-related difficulties. This study examined whether mental health mediates the relationship between job stress and job satisfaction among police personnel in Bangladesh. Data were collected from 374 officers of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police. Correlation analyses indicated that job stress was negatively associated with mental health (r = –.52, p < .001) and job satisfaction (r = –.69, p < .001), whereas mental health was positively associated with job satisfaction (r = .58, p < .001). Hierarchical regression analyses controlling for demographic variables showed that job stress was a strong negative predictor of job satisfaction (β = –.65, p < .001), and mental health was a significant positive predictor (β = .35, p < .001). Mediation analysis using the PROCESS macro with 5,000 bootstrap samples further indicated that job stress significantly predicted poorer mental health (B = − 0.14, p < .001), and mental health significantly predicted job satisfaction (B = 0.92, p < .001). The indirect effect of job stress on job satisfaction through mental health was significant (B = − 0.13, 95% CI [–0.153, − 0.102]), indicating partial mediation. These findings suggest that the relationship between job stress and job satisfaction operates both directly and indirectly through mental health. Interventions targeting stress reduction and mental health support may therefore contribute to improved job satisfaction among police personnel.