NCJ Number
191533
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 63 Issue: 6 Dated: October 2001 Pages: 82-85,118,119
Editor(s)
Susan L. Clayton
Date Published
2001
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article reviewed the sources of stress and strain in corrections and suggested possible solutions to reduce stress in the workplace.
Abstract
Stress and strain are critical yet often ignored safety factors. Work-related stress has been the object of considerable research during the last 20 years. Stress has been described as a “perception of imbalance between resources and demand.” Strain is defined as “an immediate, short-term emotional imbalance between resources and demands, which is characterized by feelings of anxiety, tension, fatigue, and exhaustion." The potential effects of work-related stress include increased absenteeism, employee turnover, illness, marital problems, and alcohol and drug use. Research about stress and strain in corrections has increased during the past 15 years and cannot be ignored without significant costs to employers and employees. This article examined the sources of stress in the corrections field and differences across variables such as job assignment, rank, gender, and ethnicity. The research suggests that the day-to-day work environment and organizational problems that arise in the corrections field can be seen as the important sources of stress. The unfortunate impact of these events could be diminished if administrators would improve their relationship with employees. One way to do this is to increase the opportunities for employees to provide input into the development of the policies and procedures that impact daily institutional functions.