NCJ Number
162879
Journal
Journal for Juvenile Justice and Detention Services Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1996) Pages: 1-5
Date Published
1996
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes the occupational stress and coping resources associated with direct-care work in juvenile detention and examines the relationships between occupational stress, coping resources, and selected individual and organizational characteristics; analyses of these relationships form the basis of a predictive model of stress and coping resources.
Abstract
A sample of direct-care workers was recruited from 17 juvenile detention facilities in Pennsylvania; 224 direct-care workers were included in the study. The study was undertaken to identify some areas neglected in previous client-based studies that have examined the effects of stress on the offender but have not detailed those factors that produce stress and contribute to negative work experiences for those employed in detention facilities. The occupational stress variable was measured with the Job Stress Index, a self-report instrument used by a number of organizations to locate perceived sources of stress and to measure the extent to which a person experiences each of a number of potential sources for stress. The Coping Resources Inventory is an instrument design to measure personal coping resources for stress. The resources measured are associated with reductions in the negative consequences of stress. Data collection was initiated by distributing the organizational questionnaire and a letter to the facility administrators several weeks prior to the distribution of subject packages. Findings show that a wide range of levels of occupational stress exists among direct-care workers in juvenile detention facilities. Implications of the study are outlined, and eight recommendations are offered for staff training and future studies. 1 table and 10 references