Occupational Stress, Coping and Personality in the Police: An SEM Study

• NCJ Number: 218546
• Journal: International Journal of Police Science & Management Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2007 Pages: 36-50
• Author(s): Adriana Ortega; Sten-Olof Brenner; Phil Leather
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This study examined links between police factors of gender, age, rank/grade, tenure, and personality and the variables of occupational stress, coping strategies, well-being, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction.

Abstract

Personality traits were found to be directly related to work-related stress, coping strategies, tension, and burn-out, and they were negatively related to overall job satisfaction. "Neuroticism"--defined as the tendency to experience negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity and emotional distress--was directly linked with perceiving bureaucracy, politics, and interpersonal conflict as stressful. Neuroticism was also related to feeling tense and up-tight as well as feelings of exhaustion and cognitive confusion. Negative coping strategies of escape and denial as well as complaints and criticism were related to neuroticism. Conscientiousness was positively related to developing a plan of action. Low organizational commitment and poor overall job satisfaction were related to occupational stressors. Gender, age, and rank had no significant relationship with any of the job-related variables. Including personality traits in risk assessment and stress audits would provide a more complete picture of the interaction between perceived harm and/or strain and one's ability to cope with them. The study sample consisted of 1,534 police officers from a British police force, 20.78 percent were female. Data were collected through focus groups and a context-specific questionnaire. The questionnaire developed reflected the working environment of the organization as determined from the focus groups. The questionnaire solicited information on the physical and social working environment of the specific group of officers. Personality traits were measured with a short adaptation of Buchanan's online version of Goldberg (1999). Other questions pertained to job stressors, coping strategies, health and well-being, and work attitude and behavior. Demographic data were also collected. 4 tables, 1 figure, and 56 references