Objective To examine the prevalence and influencing factors of physical sub-health among police officers in China and to provide evidences for developing intervention programs.

Methods We conducted a questionnaire survey among 1 805 police officers selected with convenience sampling in 13 municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions across China between September 2015 and April 2016. The complete data on 1 425 police officers aged 25 – 49 years were included in the study.

Results After excluding 487 (34.2%) participants suffering from various diseases, the mean score for physical sub-health was 41.54 ± 7.98 for all the participants, which was significantly higher than that (39.60 ± 7.16) among a sample of common civil servants reported by a previous study (P < 0.01, T = 8.94). Significantly higher mean scores for physical sub-health were found among the participants aged 25 – 29 years (40.96 ± 7.94), unmarried (43.36 ± 6.70), reaching the standard for physical exercise (42.93 ± 7.62), and serving as regimental police (42.14 ± 6.51) (P < 0.05 for all); significantly lower mean scores were found among the participants smoking (39.31 ± 7.81) and serving as security police (38.45 ± 8.64) (both P < 0.05). The physical sub-health score differed significantly by various life style among the participants (all P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant reverse correlation between physical sub-health status and anxiety (r = – 0.45, P < 0.01) and depression (r = – 0.40, P < 0.01). The regression analysis indicated that the significant influencing factors of physical sub-health included marital status (β = – 0.09), depression (β = – 0.12), anxiety (β = – 0.31), and physical exercise (β = – 0.17) (P < 0.01 for all).

Conclusion Physical sub-health is prevalent and affected by a variety of factors among police officers in China and interventions on mental health and healthy lifestyle should be promoted in the population.