NCJ Number
43642
Editor(s)
W H KROES,
J J HURRELL
Date Published
1975
Length
255 pages
Annotation
ARTICLES FROM A SYMPOSIUM HELD TO ASSESS PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS FACTORS IN POLICE WORK AND TECHNIQUES FOR ALLEVIATING STRESS ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE SYMPOSIUM, SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH, BROUGHT TOGETHER PSYCHOLOGISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS, CRIMINOLOGISTS, POLICE CHIEFS, POLICE OFFICERS, AND OTHERS WITH FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEMS OF STRESS IN POLICE WORK. SYMPOSIUM PAPERS PRESENT HEALTH STATISTICS SHOWING POLICE OFFICERS TO HAVE RELATIVELY HIGH RATES OF STRESS-RELATED DIGESTIVE AND CIRCULATORY DISORDERS. EXCESSIVE NUMBERS OF SUICIDES AMONG POLICE OFFICERS ARE ALSO REPORTED. A NUMBER OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESSORS ARE IDENTIFIED, INCLUDING CONFLICTING JOB DEMANDS, NEGATIVE PUBLIC IMAGE, LACK OF COURT SUPPORT, AND VARIABLE SHIFT ROUTINES. PROGRAMS FOR STRESS REDUCTION AND ALLEVIATION IN POLICING ARE DESCRIBED. AMONG THESE ARE PARTICIPATIVE MANAGEMENT, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, AND BIOFEEDBACK. MOST OF THE 20 SYMPOSIUM PAPERS CARRY SEPARATE LISTS OF REFERENCES. A LIST OF SYMPOSIUM PARTICIPANTS IS PROVIDED. FOR SEPARATE ABSTRACTS OF THE PAPERS, SEE NCJ-43643 THROUGH 43661 AND NCJ-35934. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).