Procedural Justice and Work Stress: A Survey of Hong Kong Police Officers

• In Event: ACCCJ Police and Policing in China

Abstract

While the concepts of stress and procedural justice have emerged to be crucial to police, empirical research on their association is quite underdeveloped. This study intends to test the key assumption that police officers who experience a higher level of internal procedural justice encounter less work stress, show more work engagement and compliance, and display a higher level of external procedural justice toward citizens. Using survey data from a random sample of 500 male and female officers across all the six police districts in Hong Kong, this study assesses the scope and prevalence of police stress, investigates sources and consequences of stress, examines procedural justice, and suggests suitable policies and measures for lowering stress and enhancing work engagement and compliance among police officers.

Authors

• Jessica Li, City University of Hong Kong

• Ivan Sun, University of Delaware

• Jacky Cheung, City University of Hong Kong