NCJ Number
149478
Journal
American Jails Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: (September-October 1993) Pages: 21- 30
Date Published
1993
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A questionnaire was completed by 110 inmates and 79 correctional officers at a Colorado facility to explore each group's perception of stress and the effectiveness of stress management training that was offered as part of an inmate program expansion.
Abstract
This study showed that both inmates and staff tended to experience more psychological than physical symptoms as a result of stress. While staff members used physical exercise as a preferred stress-coping mechanism, inmates tended to compensate for their lack of access to exercise equipment by using alternative methods of coping, including reading, writing, and talking to fellow inmates. Inmates were twice as likely to seek counseling as staff members. Boredom was cited by inmates as the most stressful aspect of incarceration, while programming was seen as the most effective means of combating it. Staff members said dealing with hostile and demanding inmates was the most stressful aspect of their job, and improved communications was the most effective way to reduce their stress. Staff members and inmates who had attended stress management courses felt that it was helpful to them in dealing with stress. Seventy percent of inmates and 64 percent of staff would be interested in attending this type of training. 8 tables and 4 references