NCJ Number
177941
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: June 1999 Pages: 303-336
Date Published
1999
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This study identifies a number of strategies that police officers use to cope with occupational stress; coping strategies are compared for gender and racial groups, with differences linked to stress levels.
Abstract
Extensive observational data and a survey of 1,087 police officers in 24 departments were used to examine the research issues. The coping strategies identified through participant observation, interviews, a follow-up survey, and cluster analysis were to change job assignment, escapist tactics, expression of feelings, formal action, obtain co-workers' positive reactions to oneself, co-worker camaraderie, racial bonds, keeping of written records, support from superiors, support from co-workers, and support from family. The findings show that African-American officers rely more strongly than Caucasian officers on bonds with other minorities; Caucasian officers more often use expression of feelings, trying to get others to like them, and camaraderie with co-workers. Female officers cope with stress by using escapist tactics and by keeping written records more often than their male counterparts. The data also suggest that an officer's stress-level group depends on the coping strategies used. Implications for future research are discussed, as are programs to help police develop effective strategies for coping with occupational problems. 7 tables, 104 references, and appended scales that measure coping strategies