NCJ Number
113540
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1988) Pages: 21-28
Date Published
1988
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Police officers from six agencies in northern Louisiana were surveyed to determine what coping behaviors they used to cope with personal and occupational stress.
Abstract
The study assumed that all participants were under some degree of stress due to the nature of police work. Thus, it did not seek to determine the sources or levels of stress. The 200 respondents completed questionnaires providing demographic information and including the Jalowiec Coping Scale that focuses on 15 problem-oriented coping mechanisms and 25 affective or maladaptive coping mechanisms. Data were analyzed using a t-test and multivariate analysis of variance. Municipal police officers and parish deputies did not differ significantly in their use of coping mechanisms. Rank, education, or assignment were also unrelated to the use of both adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms. Further research should try to identify the adaptive mechanisms most preferred by officers and to discover methods to enhance the use of these mechanisms. Tables and 19 references.