Demographic Workplace Characteristics Which Add to the Prediction of Stress and Job Satisfaction Within the Police Workplace

• NCJ Number: 192003
• Journal: Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2001 Pages: 29-39
• Author(s): Jeremy D. Davey; Patricia L. Obst; Mary C. Sheehan
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the influence of workplace and job characteristics on the occupational stress and job satisfaction of Australian police officers.

Abstract

The research surveyed 749 police officers from 2 divisions of an Australian State police service. Results revealed a positive relationship between organizational support and job stress. In addition, difficulty in dealing with organizational change led to lower job satisfaction and higher levels of job stress. Working long hours led to increased job stress, but it did not lead to lower job satisfaction. In contrast, shiftwork led to lowered job satisfaction, but it did not lead to job stress. The results also revealed that the job content factor of dealing with dangerous and unpredictable duties was not predictive of job stress; instead, it led to higher job satisfaction. Findings supported previous research that suggested that police officers find job context factors more stressful than job content factors. Tables and 23 references (Author abstract modified)