NCJ Number
168252
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 18 Issue: 3 & 4 Dated: (1995) Pages: 53-68
Date Published
1995
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A survey consisting of demographic questions and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was administered to 212 sworn officers of a large suburban police department to assess the extent to which burnout plagued the police profession.
Abstract
The dependent variable was burnout, a state of emotional exhaustion characterized by feelings of cynicism toward clients. The MBI measured burnout on a general scale and three subscales: emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment, and depersonalization. Four different police career stages were examined as independent variables to determine their relation to levels of perceived burnout. The survey hypothesized police officers in the career stage between 6 and 15 years would report the highest burnout levels. Data revealed police officers in the career stage between 16 and 25 years reported the highest burnout levels on the general burnout scale and on the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization subscales. A curvilinear relation was observed between career stages and perceived burnout levels of all participants. Recommendations to stop the burnout syndrome from having a detrimental impact on police departments are offered. 18 references and 2 figures