NCJ Number
212731
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 33 Issue: 6 Dated: November/December 2005 Pages: 535-547
Date Published
November 2005
Length
13 pages
Annotation
A sample of police officers from a large urban police department was studied to determine the interactive effects of race and gender in occupational stress.
Abstract
Data were obtained from Gershon's (1999) study of domestic violence and occupational stress among 1,106 police officers from each of the 9 Baltimore City police precincts and the Baltimore City police headquarters. For the current study, the sample of officers was divided into four subgroups: White males, African-American males, White females, and African-American females. These subgroups were compared on three domains of the stress process: stressors, coping mechanisms, and multiple psychological symptoms of stress. Contrary to the hypothesis, White male officers reported higher levels of physical symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression than was reported by their African-American male counterparts. Consistent with previous research, levels of psychological stress reported by female officers were generally higher than those reported by male officers. There was no statistically significant difference between White and African-American female officers on any of the stress domains measured. Both male and female African-American officers were more likely to use constructive coping than their White counterparts. The authors advise that these findings are preliminary, and they recommend that more research be conducted on the relationship between changes in police organizational culture and police occupational stress. 4 tables, 5 notes, 77 references, and appended composite index construction for the current study