Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31299/ksi.34.1.1
Relationship between participative vertical communication and police officers’ job satisfaction and work motivation
Krunoslav Borovec
; Ministry of the Interior, Police Academy "First Croatian Police Officer"
*
Marinko Bajkovac
; Ministry of the Interior, Istarska County Police Administration
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Police organisations typically operate under subordinated and hierarchically structured systems in which the quality of communication plays a crucial role in employee motivation and job satisfaction. Research suggests that motivated and satisfied employees manifest positive organisational behaviour, provide better service, and work more efficiently. Accordingly, the aim of this paper was to examine the extent to which police officers’ job satisfaction and work motivation are associated with vertical communication characterised by a participative leadership style. Survey data were collected from a sample of 214 police officers in the Istria Police Department. The structure and metric properties of the questionnaire were assessed, following which multivariate and univariate regression analyses were performed. The criterion variables were job satisfaction and work motivation, while the predictor variables included: (1) active listening and respect from supervisors, (2) supervisor accountability and explanation of decisions, (3) supervisor neutrality, and (4) frequency of communication with supervisors. The findings indicate a significant contribution of specific components of participative communication between supervisors and police officers in explaining job satisfaction and work motivation. In this regard, the results have both practical and scientific implications - emphasising the importance of communication in police leadership and the need for leadership training, as well as understanding the factors that influence workplace satisfaction and motivation.
Keywords
Police officers; job satisfaction; work motivation; vertical communication; participative communication
Hrčak ID:
348443
URI
Publication date:
29.6.2026.
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