NCJ Number
80723
Journal
Polizia Moderna Volume: 32 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1980) Pages: 8-15
Date Published
1980
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The causes and effects of police occupational stress and suggestions for stress reduction are offered in this article. Information is drawn chiefly from the U.S. experience.
Abstract
Stress has been known to cause coronary and digestive problems as well as various skin conditions and nervous disorders. Police occupational stress is seen as the result of the failure to achieve idealistic expectations, compounded by lack of recognition for the hazardous duty involved. Other causes are the daily confrontation of violence and the inability to share these burdens with family members. Suggestions for combating stress include meditation, biofeedback techniques, physical exercise, psychological counseling, change in diet, transfer to other duties, vacation, and participation in stress seminars. One plan to reduce stress, in effect in Quincy, Mass., calls for improvements in police management, development of better career paths for police officers, and other actions to improve the quality of police work life. Supporting documentation from FBI records and articles in 'Police Chief' magazine are provided.