NCJ Number
45406
Date Published
1977
Length
136 pages
Annotation
THE HYPOTHESIS THAT INCREASED EXPERIENCES OF PHYSICALLY THREATENING ENCOUNTERS AMONG POLICE OFFICERS WOULD RESULT IN PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND INTERPERSONAL PROBLEMS AND DECREASED JOB SATISFACTION WAS TESTED.
Abstract
THE SUBJECTS TESTED WERE 90 MALE POLICE OFFICERS OF A LARGE MIDWESTERN INDUSTRIAL CITY WHO HELD THE RANK OF PATROLMAN AND HAD BEEN ON THE FORCE FROM 3 TO 9 YEARS. INDIVIDUAL UNSTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS RESULTED IN THE ASSIGNMENT OF THESE OFFICERS TO ONE OF THREE PREDEFINED INDEPENDENT GROUPS: LOW PHYSICAL STRESS; MODERATE PHYSICAL STRESS; OR LETHAL STRESS. THE FOLLOWING TESTING INSTRUMENTS WERE ADMINISTERED TO THE SUBJECTS: (1) THE CORNELL MEDICAL INDEX HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING A GENERAL MEDICAL HISTORY; (2) THE TAYLOR MANIFEST ANXIETY SCALE, WHICH INCLUDES BOTH PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS OF TRAIT ANXIETY; (3) THE SITUATION ANXIETY SCALE, WHICH MEASURES THE OFFICER'S SELF-REPORTED AWARENESS OF STRESS REACTIONS WHILE ON DUTY; (4) THE SCL-90, A SELF-REPORT CLINICAL RATING SCALE WHICH MEASURES SOMATIZATION, OBSESSION-COMPULSION, INTERPERSONAL SENSITIVITY, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, HOSTILITY, PHOBIC ANXIETY, PARANOID IDEATION, AND PSYCHOTICISM; (5) THE JOB SATISFACTION SCALE; AND (6) THE SOCIAL DESIRABILITY SCALE, AS AN INDICATION OF THE DEFENSIVENESS OF THE OFFICER'S RESPONSES. A PATTERN OF INTERPERSONAL HOSTILITY, SUSPICIOUSNESS, DISCOMFORT, AND DIFFICULTY SEEMS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED PHYSICALLY THREATENING ENCOUNTERS ON THE JOB. HOWEVER, THE OCCURRENCE OF LETHALITY OR NEAR-LETHALITY DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE FURTHER ASSOCIATED WITH INTERPERSONAL DISTRESS BEYOND THAT ALREADY EXPERIENCED BY OFFICERS WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED MODERATE STRESS IN THE FORM OF INJURIES SUSTAINED IN SUBLETHAL PHYSICAL ENCOUNTERS. THUS, IT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF POTENTIAL THREAT TO LIFE AND PERSONAL SAFETY WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH GREATER ANGER AND SUSPICIOUSNESS, DISCOMFORT AND SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS, AND INTERPERSONAL PROBLEMS. THOSE POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE SUSTAINED NO INJURIES RESULTING FROM PHYSICAL ENCOUNTERS EVIDENCE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS DIFFICULTY IN THOSE AREAS. FURTHER RESEARCH INTO LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF STRESS AND THE CREATION OF PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY OFFICERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST MODERATE STRESS ON THE JOB FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY INTERVENTION ARE SUGGESTED. SUPPORTING STATISTICS AND DOCUMENTATION AS WELL AS A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (DAS)