NCJ Number
57157
Journal
POLICE COLLEGE MAGAZINE Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 36-43
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
SOURCES, SYMPTOMS, AND EFFECTS OF STRESS, BOTH IN GENERAL AND FOR THE BRITISH POLICE IN PARTICULAR, ARE DISCUSSED, AND MEANS OF REDUCING JOB-RELATED STRESS FOR POLICE OFFICERS ARE CONSIDERED.
Abstract
SOURCES OF STRESS ARE MANY AND VARIED, BUT THE BIOLOGICAL RESPONSES THEY PRODUCE ARE ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL. STRESS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A BACKGROUND FACTOR IN MANY PHYSICAL DISORDERS AND APPEARS TO BE RAMPANT IN THE BRITISH POPULATION. PEOPLE SUFFER AS MUCH FROM A TOTAL LACK OF STRESS AS THEY DO FROM AN EXCESS OF STRESS. ON THE JOB, THIS TRANSLATES INTO A NEED TO BALANCE JOB SATISFACTION AND MOTIVATION. AS IS THE CASE WITH MANY OCCUPATIONS, POLICE OFFICERS RARELY ARE IN A POSITION TO DETERMINE THAT BALANCE. JOB STRESS MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM FACING BRITISH POLICE OFFICERS, WHO ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATIONS THAT PRODUCE STRESS IN THEIR LIVES BUT HAVE YET TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF STRESS. SOURCES OF JOB-RELATED STRESS FOR POLICE MAY BE FOUND IN THE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS THEY MUST HANDLE, THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE DEMANDS OF SUPERVISORS, COURTROOM EXPERIENCES, THE RIGORS OF SHIFT WORK, OVERWORK, AND MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF POLICING. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR MANAGEMENT TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SIGNS OF STRESS IN OFFICERS AND TO ESTABLISH A POLICY FOR DEALING WITH STRESS. EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE STRESS BEFORE IT SEVERELY AFFECTS OFFICERS, TO CHANGE OFFICERS SO THAT THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO HANDLE STRESS, AND TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL HELP FOR STRESSED OFFICERS. AN IMPORTANT STEP IS TO INVOLVE OFFICERS' FAMILIES IN THEIR WORK. A LIST OF STRESS SYMPTOMS, A DESCRIPTION OF AN AMERICAN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S TRAINING PROGRAM FOR POLICE FAMILIES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)