NCJ Number
138711
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1992) Pages: 260-285
Date Published
1992
Length
26 pages
Annotation
A survey of 4,479 police, correctional, and probation and parole officers in Georgia gathered information on occupational stress.
Abstract
The 129-item questionnaire included 59 items that represented a modified version of Spielberger's Police Stress Survey. The initial response rate was 60.8 percent, and the elimination of incomplete and invalid responses produced a final sample of 2,166 individuals. Factor analysis was used to process the data. Results revealed an apparent curvilinear relationship between time on the job and perceived stress for police and probation and parole officers, with the least stress experienced by those with the least and greatest experience. However, the trend was more linear when only line officers of both groups were considered. As a group, correctional officers did not show a curvilinear pattern, although line correctional officers did. Results may indicate that the ability to cope with stress increases beyond the middle years of the career or that officers experiencing the greatest stress left early in their career. Further research should focus on these and other issues. Figure, tables, notes, and 28 references (Author abstract modified)