COMPARATIVE LOOK AT STRESS AND STRAIN IN POLICEMEN (FROM JOB STRESS AND THE POLICE OFFICER - IDENTIFYING STRESS REDUCTION TECHNIQUES - PROCEEDINGS OF SYMPOSIUM, 1975 BY W H KROES, J J HURRELL, JR - SEE NCJ-43642)

• NCJ Number: 43648
• Author(s): J R P French
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: THE SYMPOSIUM WAS HELD IN CINCINNATI, OHIO ON MAY 8 & 9, 1975, AND CHAIRED BY DR WILLIAM H KROES

Annotation

JOB-RELATED STRESS AND STRAIN EXPERIENCED BY POLICEMEN AND BY MEN IN 22 OTHER BLUE-COLLAR, WHITE-COLLAR, AND BLUE/WHITE-COLLAR OCCUPATIONS ARE COMPARED IN A STUDY OF 2,010 WORKERS.

Abstract

THE SAMPLE OF 111 POLICEMEN, DRAWN FROM FOUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, IS SLIGHTLY YOUNGER AND SLIGHTLY LOWER IN SOCIAL-ECONOMIC STATUS AND MEAN INCOME THAN THE REST OF THE SAMPLE. POLICEMEN EXPERIENCE MORE STRESS THAN OTHER WORKERS WITH REGARD TO RESPONSIBILITY FOR OTHER PEOPLE, COMPLEXITY OF WORK, AND NONPARTICIPATION. POLICEMEN EXPERIENCE LESS STRESS THAN OTHERS WITH REGARD TO JOB INSECURITY AND UNDERUTILIZATION OF BEST ABILITIES. POLICE EXPERIENCE LESS AFFECTIVE STRAIN IN THE AREAS OF JOB DISSATISFACTION AND BOREDOM, BUT GREATER STRAIN WITH REGARD TO ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND IRRITATION. POLICEMEN WITH LOWER LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION REPORT GREATER JOB DISSATISFACTION. POOR FIT BETWEEN ACTUAL JOB COMPLEXITY AND DESIRED JOB COMPLEXITY CORRELATES WITH JOB DISSATISFACTION, WITH BOREDOM, AND WITH DEPRESSION. OTHER STUDIES CONDUCTED IN THE UNITED STATES AND ELSWHERE SUPPORT THE FINDING ON THE EFFECTS OF LOW PARTICIPATION. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS FOR THE PREVENTION OF STRESS AND STRAIN IN POLICE WORK ARE DISCUSSED.