Connecting Body-Worn Camera Impacts to Stress, Burnout, and Turnover Intention Among Chinese Police Officers

• In Event: Policing in Chinese Societies

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between technology and well-being among police officers. The rise of BWC in policing has stirred a burgeoning line of studies investigating the correlates and influences of utilizing BWC in street-level policing. Nonetheless, little is known about the connections between the perceived BWC impacts and officer well-being. This study attempts to fill this knowledge gap in the policing literature by analyzing survey data collected from over 2,800 police officers in China. Regression results demonstrate that both perceived positive and negative BWC effects are directly associated with lower turnover intention. Also, perceived positive BWC impacts reduce police officers’ stress and burnout, whereas perceived adverse BWC effects raise their stress and burnout. The indirect relationships between perceived BWC positive and negative impacts and turnover intention are mainly mediated by stress. Our study confirms the direct and indirect linkages between perceived BWC effects and officer well-being. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.

Authors

• Rui Sun, Shandong University

• Yuning Wu, Wayne State University

• Ivan Sun, University of Delaware

• Ziqiang Han, Shandong University