Police Officers’ Views of Stress, Stress Intervention Services and Pre-Service Education on Stress

• In Event: Police Officer Stress and Job Satisfaction

Abstract

Drawing on a mixed method study on police officer stress, police officers’ views of stress, stress intervention services and pre-service education (police academy) are examined. For the qualitative examination, 46 officers were interviewed regarding police stress and stress interventions. Additionally, 673 officers through Pennsylvania were surveyed. The findings from both studies indicated (as expected) younger officers with fewer years of service have received more pre-service education with regard to police officer stress and are more willing to use stress intervention services when compared to older officers. However, other factors, such as perceived organizational support of police officers and perceived organizational support of the use of stress intervention services were stronger predictors of officer stress and willingness to use services than age or years of service. Other factors, such as size and location of the agency (e.g., urban, suburban, rural) were examined.

Authors

• Jane Tucker, West Chester University of Pennsylvania

• Lisa M. Miller, West Chester University of Pennsylvania