NCJ Number
211061
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management Volume: 28 Issue: 2 Dated: 2005 Pages: 321-336
Date Published
2005
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the sources of police job stress that are internatl to the organization and that have the potential to be reduced or eliminated.
Abstract
Law enforcement organizations are non-profit organizations that rank among the top five most stressful occupations worldwide. Research has shown that sources of job stress from within the organization can be identified and steps can be taken to reduce their influence on the police officer and the organization. This study takes an interdisciplinary research orientation in an attempt to comprehensively investigate the effects of police stress internal to the organization, such as role conflict, supervisor support, and promotional opportunities on organizational commitment, after controlling for the effects of job satisfaction. Preliminary meetings were held in the early part of 2003 with law enforcement supervisors in six law enforcement agencies of three Florida counties. Three hundred surveys were administered by ranking police officers, resulting in 160 completed and 150 usable surveys. Results indicate that role conflict and role ambiguity are not significant in explaining the variance in police officers' organizational commitment. However, three stressors (i.e. supervisor support, group cohesiveness, and promotional opportunities) are important antecedents of organizational commitment. The results have important implications for senior police officers in charge of managing the police force, Study limitations are presented and discussed. Tables, references