NCJ Number
53658
Journal
FROM ABSTRACTS ON POLICE SCIENCE Volume: 6 Issue: 5 Dated: (SEPTMEBER/OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 257 - 268
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCES OF STRESS IN POLICE WORK ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING FACTORS INTRINSIC TO THE JOB AND ORGANIZATIONAL, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, RELATIONSHIP, AND PERSONALITY FACTORS.
Abstract
NUMEROUS OCCUPATIONAL STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT SHIFT WORK IS A COMMON OCCUPATIONAL STRESSOR AND THAT SUCH WORK ALSO AFFECTS NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS SUCH AS BLOOD TEMPERATURE, METABOLIC RATE, BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL, MENTAL EFFICIENCY, AND WORK MOTIVATION. IN ADDITION TO JOB OVERLOAD AND JOB UNDERLOAD, OTHER SOURCES OF OF OCCUPATIONAL STRESS ARE ROLE AMBIGUITY, ROLE CONFLICT, RESPONSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE, AND CONFLICTS STEMMING FROM ORGANIZATIONAL BOUNDARIES. PAY RATE AND PROMOTION ARE STRESSORS IN THE AREA OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT. RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK INCLUDE THE NATURE OF INTEREACTION WITH COLLEAGUES, SUPERVISORS, AND SUBORDINATES. FACTORS RELATED TO STRESS IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND CLIMATE ARE OFFICE POLITICS, A LACK OF EFFECTIVE CONSULTATION, NO PARTICIPATION IN THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS, AND RESTRICTIONS ON BEHAVIOR. INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES AFFECTING STRESS PERTAIN TO AGE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO STRESSORS. PERSONALITY AND BEHAVIORAL TRAIT INFLUENCES FOCUS ON ANXIETY, PSYCHOMETRIC MEASURES AND STRESS-RELATED DISEASE, AND STRESS BEHAVIOR PATTERNS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ANY SELECTED SAMPLE IN STRESS RESEARCH SHOULD INCLUDE A REPRESENTATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL AGE RANGE BETWEEN 19 AND 60 YEARS, THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VARIOUS PSYCHOMETRIC MEASURES SHOULD BE ANALYZED, AND THAT STRESS STUDIES SHOULD BE PROSPECTIVE RATHER THAN RETROSPECTIVE. REFERENCES ARE CITED. SEE N&J-53657 FOR PART 10. (DEP)