NCJ Number
173870
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 1998 Pages: 117-128
Date Published
1998
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated stress levels, the presence of stressors, and degree of participation in stress reduction activities among correctional officers working in a relatively rural area of Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
The study focused on employees of a jail, a regional young offender center, and a regional correctional complex. Questionnaire data were collected from all employees who worked during a 3- to 4 day collection period at each site. The dependent study variable was stress, while independent study variables related to stress included religious activity, recreational activity, environmental factors, life stressors, job satisfaction, and work stressors. Five scales were constructed for the study; two scales measured life and work stress, two scales measured life and work stressors, and one scale measured job satisfaction. Results showed correctional officers reported relatively low stress levels. These levels were lower than those reported in most studies of stress and were substantially lower than those reported in three studies of police departments and teachers in the United States that used comparable instruments. Although the study sought to clarify the relationship between stress and a number of variables, the low stress levels reported made such an analysis inappropriate. Additional research is recommended to explore the nature of stress among Canadian correctional officers and factors that increase, decrease, or mediate the impact of stressors. A representative sample of scale items is appended. 56 references and 3 tables