STRESS AWARENESS (FROM JOB STRESS AND THE POLICE OFFICER - IDENTIFYING STRESS REDUCTION TECHNIQUES PROCEEDINGS OF SYMPOSIUM, 1975 BY W H KROES, AND J J HURRELL, JR - SEE NCJ-43642)

• NCJ Number: 43661
• Author(s): J J HURRELL; W H KROES
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: THE SYMPOSIUM WAS HELD IN CINCINNATI, OHIO ON MAY 8 & 9, 1975, AND CHAIRED BY DR WILLIAM H KROES

Annotation

THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF JOB STRESS IN POLICE WORK ARE DISCUSSED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE NEED TO MAKE POLICE OFFICERS AWARE OF THE JOB STRESS PROBLEM.

Abstract

PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS ON THE JOB IS A SERIOUS OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD. STRESSORS IMPINGING ON POLICE OFFICERS INCLUDE THOSE SHARED WITH OTHER OCCUPATIONS (E.G., ROLE CONFLICT, WORK OVERLOADS) AND THOSE SPECIFIC TO POLICE WORK (E.G., UNFAVORABLE PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE POLICE). MOST STRESSORS ORIGINATE IN THE DEPARTMENT'S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OR IN THE ATTITUDES OF THE PUBLIC. RESEARCH HAS DEMONSTRATED A CLEAR ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL JOB STRESS AND CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND ITS RISK FACTORS. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SHIFTWORK IN POLICING, THE EFFECTS OF THE POLICE OFFICER'S JOB ON HIS HOMELIFE, AND THE PROBLEM OF ALCOHOLISM ARE OTHER AREAS OF CONCERN. EVIDENCE CAN BE FOUND OF BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS OF THE POLICE SUBCULTURE, E.G., THE TENDENCY OF SOME POLICE OFFICERS TO ASSOCIATE ONLY WITH OTHER OFFICERS. THERE IS INDIRECT EVIDENCE THAT SYSTEMATIC PHYSICAL EXERCISE MAY REDUCE STRESS OR MEDIATE ITS EFFECTS. STRESS REDUCTION CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY ELIMINATING THE STRESSORS, BY INCREASING THE INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO COPE WITH STRESS, AND BY PROVIDING THE STRESSED INDIVIDUAL WITH HELP.