A recent empirical study examining police trainees in Puno, Peru, has found no direct statistical correlation between perceived stress levels and physical fitness. Published regarding evaluations conducted during the second bimestre of 2025, the research assessed 208 students at the Higher Technical and Professional Education School of the Peruvian National Police, measuring both psychological strain and physical indicators such as strength, speed, and endurance.
Evaluating Stress and Physical Fitness in Police Trainees
According to the study’s findings, the calculated Spearman correlation coefficient between perceived stress and physical fitness stood at Rho = -0.081, indicating an absence of a direct relationship between the two variables during intense institutional training. Researchers utilized the perceived stress questionnaire to evaluate psychological load, while field tests tracked the physical capabilities of the students.
The institutional training environment of the Peruvian National Police is characterized by strict discipline, rigorous academic demands, and high physical performance standards. Despite these pressures, the data showed that the vast majority of student officers maintained strong physical conditioning alongside manageable stress levels.
Breakdown of Stress Levels and Physical Performance Scores
The assessment categorized student stress into distinct brackets, revealing that the largest proportion of participants experienced moderate psychological pressure. Specifically, according to the research data:
- Very low stress: 8,2% of participants
- Low stress: 38% of participants
- Moderate stress: 45,7% of participants
- High stress: 7,2% of participants
- Very high stress: 1% of participants
Regarding physical aptitude tests measuring resistance, speed, and strength, students scored predominantly in the upper brackets. The evaluation recorded that 26,9% of the student cohort reached an excellent physical fitness level, 65,4% achieved a good level, and 7,7% registered a regular level. These figures demonstrate an overall robust physical state among recruits entering the professional police force.
Broader Context on Student Stress and Physical Activity
The findings in Puno align with broader academic inquiries into student populations in Peru regarding lifestyle habits, psychological factors, and physical health. For instance, a separate study conducted by Guillermo Davides Atuncar Manco at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru analyzed 102 university students aged 16 to 23 using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale. That Lima-based research, advised by Mónica de los Milagros Cassaretto Bardales, similarly explored the inverse relationship between physical activity and perceived stress among young adults.
While the Lima university study focused on general undergraduate demographics, the Puno police training evaluation highlights how specialized academic environments handle rigorous physical demands. The police academy data indicates that high institutional demands do not automatically translate into severe psychological distress or compromised physical conditioning for the majority of trainees.