NCJ Number
219673
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Dated: 2007 Pages: 291-309
Date Published
2007
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated the effects of commonly examined police stressors’ on the members of the Turkish National Police, a centralized police department in a developing nation.
Abstract
Results indicated that several police stressors for local police departments, such as work characteristics, did not have the same effects for police officers in larger, centralized police departments when other factors were controlled. However, the findings indicated that organizational issues, particularly the structure and management, were the most significant cause of police officer stress across types of police organizations. Results also found that decreased job satisfaction led to increased police stress, which was consistent with previous research. Finally, while certain demographic characteristics such as gender, martial status, and education were associated with officers’ level of stress, the analysis indicated that when these characteristics were assessed alongside other organizational predictors of stress, they did not create significant differences in the experience of police officer stress. The findings suggest that the most effective means to reducing police officer stress is to place more emphasis on modern management methods that provide a more relaxed environment for officers. Participants were 812 civilian officers, police officers, and mid-level supervisors who completed a self-administered mailed survey regarding levels of stress, demographic characteristics, jurisdiction characteristics, job satisfaction, management type, and organizational bureaucracy. Data were analyzed using multivariate ordinary least squares regression models. Tables, references, appendix