NCJ Number
226956
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2009 Pages: 245-258
Date Published
March 2009
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined predictors of job stress among employees of juvenile correctional facilities in Kentucky, and sought to examine the relationship of job stress to an array of demographic and work environment variables among staff filling a variety of positions in juvenile facilities.
Abstract
Consistent with prior research on job stress among staff of juvenile correctional facilities, this study found the level of stress to be moderate. In addition, the stress level found was comparable to levels reported in studies using the Prison Social Climate Survey (PSCS) with the staff of adult Federal facilities. The results imply that it is wrong to presuppose that all work in correctional institutions is highly stressful. The results suggest that the level of staff stress is likely a function of the work environment of a given facility and organization. The two strongest predictors of job stress in the study were the organizational commitment or satisfaction and job satisfaction or commitment measures. Committed and satisfied employees were likely to have internalized many of the values and norms of the agency, resulting in less dissonance and stress. The findings have important implications for programs to help staff better manage stress and for modifications of the work environment. During the past two to three decades, job stress has received considerable attention in the adult corrections literature. However, comparatively little attention has been devoted to job stress among staff working in juvenile correctional facilities. The Job Stress subscale of the PSCS was completed by 443 staff working in residential placement facilities and group homes operated by the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice. Job stress scores were regressed on a wide range of potential predictors. Tables and references