Abstract
Much research has been conducted into aspects of the police workplace that contribute to stress for individual officers. The current paper examines the influence of worksplace and job characteristics on both officers' stress and their job satisfaction. Police officers recruited from two divisions of an Australian state police service (n=749) were surveyed. Results show that there was a positive relationship between organizational support and job satisfaction and a negative relationship between organizational support and job stress. Difficulty in dealing with organizational change led to lower job satisfaction and higher levels of job stress. Working long hours led to increased job stress but it did not lead to lower job satisfaction. In contrast, shiftwork led to lowered job satisfaction but it did not lead to job stress. Of particular interest in this study was the finding that the job content factor of dealing with dangerous and unpredictable duties was not predictive of job stress but in fact led to higher job satisfaction.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brown, J., & Campbell, E. (1990). Sources of Occupational Stress in Police.Work and Stress, 4, 305–318.
Coman, G., & Evans, B. (1988). What police don't like about their job: Sources of dissatisfaction in police work.Australian Police Journal, July, 116–117.
Coman, G., & Evans, B. (1991). Stressors facing Australian Police in the 1990's.Police Studies, 14, 153–164.
Cooper, C., Davidson, M., & Robinson, P. (1988). Stress in the police service.Journal of Occupational Medicine, 24, 30–36.
Crank, J., Culberton, R., Hewitt, J., & Regoli, B. (1993). An assessment of work stress among police executives.Journal of Criminal Justice, 21, 313–324.
Dantzer, M., & Kubin, B. (1998). Job satisfaction: The gender perspective among police officers.American Journal of Criminal Justice, 23, 19–31.
Davidson, M., & Veno, A. (1980). Stress and the policeman. In C. Cooper, & J. Marshall (Eds.),White collar and professional stress. London: Wiley.
Davis, R. (1983). Stress: Deadlier than a bullet.Police Marksman, March, 10–12.
Dawson, R. (1993). The hidden cost of stress.NSW Police News, February, 23–25.
Dietrich, J., & Smith, J. (1986). The non-medical use of drugs including alcohol among police personnel: A critical literature review.Journal of Police Science and Administration, 14, 300–306.
Duckworth, D. (1987). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.Stress Medicine, 3, 175–183.
Fielding, N. (1987).Joining forces: Police training, socialisation and occupational competence. London: Routledge.
Gudjonsson, G., & Adlam, K. (1985). Occupational Stressors among British Police Officers.Police Journal, 58, 73–85.
Hurrell, J., & Kleismet, R. (1984)Stress among officers. USA: US Department of Health and Human Services.
Kroes, W. (1985).Society's victims- The, police: An analysis of job stress in police. Springfield: Charles Thomas.
Lester, D. (1982). Subjective Stress and Sources of Stress for Police Officers.Psychological Reports, 50, 1094–99.
Mitchell, J. (1990).Operational and Training Guide, critical incident stress debriefing component of the Queensland Police Service, Critical Incident Stress Management. Program. Brisbane: Go Print.
Morris, A., Shinn, M., & Dumont, K. (1999). Contextual factors affecting the organisational commitment of diverse police officers: A levels analysis perspective.American Journal of Community Psychology, 27, 75–105.
Occupational Health and Safety Commission. (1992). Drugs and the workplace: Research report. Melbourne: Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Commission.
Savery, L., Soutar, G., And Weaver, J. (1993). Stress and the police officer: Some Western Australian Evidence:The Police Journal, July, 227–290
Shanahan, P. (1992).A study of attitudes and behaviours: Working in the police force today and the role of alcohol. Sydney: Elliott and Shanahan Research Australia.
Steinberg, M. A., Tyman, R. V., Gill, J. L. & Williams, G. (1996).Medical retirement: Implications for healthy and productive ageing in police. Brisbane: The University of Queensland Department of Social and Preventive Medicine.
Violanti, J. (1983). Stress patterns in police work: A longitudinal study.Journal of Police Science and Administration, 11, 211–216.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Authors' Note: Jeremy Davey, DipT, Bed, Med, is Deputy Director, Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety, School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Beams road, Carseldine, Qld 4034, Australia.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Davey, J.D., Obst, P.L. & Sheehan, M.C. Demographic and workplace characteristics which add to the prediction of stress and job satisfaction within the police workplace. J Police Crim Psych 16, 29–39 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02802731
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02802731