The combined impact of critical and medical incident exposure on correctional officers’ mental health

• In Event: Violence Exposure and other Environmental Influences on Mental Health and Neurological Functioning among Correctional Officers

Abstract

Correctional officers (COs) are routinely exposed to a variety of dangerous, stressful, and traumatic situations. While such exposures are well documented, empirical research has yet to fully examine the potential differential impact of these exposures on officer mental health and well-being. Drawing from a sample of COs from three prisons in Minnesota (N = 488), this study examines the independent and combined impact of critical incident and medical incident exposures on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms. Critical incidents include all disciplinary incidents that officers respond to, while medical incidents refer to situations in which officers respond to health-related emergencies. Both critical incident and medical incident exposures were assessed using a combination of administrative data and narrative reports written by responding officers and their supervisors. The analyses revealed that increases in both critical incident and medical incident exposures resulted in an increase in mental health problems. Further, those officers who experienced greater exposure to both critical and medical incidents experienced even greater levels of mental health problems. These results underscore the need for interventions that reduce mental health symptomatology by targeting multiple forms of occupational stressors.

Authors

• Kari L. Kramer, Florida State University

• Joseph A. Schwartz, Florida State University