NCJ Number
213499
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 34 Issue: 1 Dated: January/February 2006 Pages: 73-84
Date Published
January 2006
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study explored the sources and severity of stress for correctional officers in South Africa, focusing particularly on possible relationship between psychological strengths and occupational stress.
Abstract
Overall, the results indicated that an external locus of control and a negative affect were positively related to the experience of occupational stress for correctional officers in South Africa. Conversely, an internal locus of control, defined as perceiving themselves as the main cause of outcomes in their lives, was associated with less strain from occupational stress. The findings also suggested that the most severe stressors for correctional officers in South Africa involved a lack of resources, such as an inadequate salary, staff shortages, and a lack of recognition. Recommendations include greater access to a range of interventions for occupational stress, such as stress management and coping skills programming. Research methods involved the development of a correctional officer stress inventory, which was administered to a cross-sectional, simple random sample of 157 correctional officers employed by the Department of Correctional Services in a management area within the Freestate Province of South Africa. Participants also completed the Work Locus of Control Scale and the affectometer 2, a self-report scale assessing general happiness and well-being. Data were analyzed using SPSS, a statistical software package, which generated descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Future research should attempt to replicate these findings with a larger sample. Tables, references