NCJ Number
218297
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior: An International Journal Volume: 34 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2007 Pages: 555-567
Date Published
April 2007
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of the Job Demand-Control-Support (JDCS) model in predicting occupational strain in 132 Australian correctional officers.
Abstract
The JDCS measure revealed acceptable levels of both reliability and validity for predicting occupational strain among the sample of correctional officers. The results obtained from the correctional officers were similar to those obtained from police populations using measures of specific police operational and organizational job demands. The authors point out that for high-stress occupational groups, sample-specific measures of job demands appear to be the most appropriate measurements. Other findings of the research indicated that supervisory support significantly reduced the impact of job demands on negative job satisfaction among correctional officers. Participants were 132 randomly selected Australian correctional officers who completed self-report questionnaires mailed to them through their internal mail systems. The questionnaire elicited information about correctional officer job demands, job control, social support, job satisfaction, and work-related psychological well-being. Data were examined using an exploratory factor analysis, correlational analysis, and hierarchal multiple regression models. Future research should undertake a more detailed psychometric testing of the JDCS model using a larger sample. Tables, figures, appendix, references