NCJ Number
45967
Journal
LEGAL POINTS Issue: 84 Dated: (1977)
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF STRESSORS SPECIFIC TO MINORITY AND FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL, THE EFFECTS OF STRESS, LAWS RELATED TO STRESS, AND STRESS REDUCTION ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
FEMALE AND MINORITY GROUP POLICE OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS ARE SUBJECT TO MANY OF THE SAME STRESSORS AS OTHER POLICE OFFICERS. IN ADDITION TO THESE, WOMEN AND RACIAL MINORITIES MUST COPE WITH STRESS RELATED TO HOSTILE AND SKEPTICAL ATTITUDES HELD BY THEIR PEERS AND SUPERVISORS. FOR SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND POLICIES, DECISIONMAKING, AND LACK OF SUPPORT OR INTERACTIONAL PROBLEMS WITH SUBORDINATES AND THE COMMUNITY MAY ALL BE ADDED SOURCES OF STRESS. A NUMBER OF SYMPTOMS MAY INDICATE THAT AN OFFICER IS EXPERIENCING OCCUPATIONAL STRESS. THESE INCLUDE DECREASED WORK PERFORMANCE OR INTEREST, INCREASED ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, ABSENTEEISM, RISK-TAKING BEHAVIORS, OVERZEALOUSNESS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES, PARANOIA, DEPRESSION, DEFENSIVENESS, TENSENESS, AND OVERAGGRESSIVENESS OR NEEDLESS VIOLENCE. OCCUPATIONAL STRESSES CAN LEAD TO THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DETERIORATION OF THE EMPLOYEE AND RESULT IN NUMEROUS PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PATHOLOGIES SUCH AS COMBAT NEUROSES, PSYHOSES, SUICIDES, ULCERS, OR HEART DISEASE. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT SOME OF THE CHRONIC STRESS REACTIONS ARE PARTICULARLY HIGH AMONG POLICE AS AN OCCUPATIONAL GROUP. SUICIDE RATES, DIGESTIVE AND CIRCULATORY DISORDERS, AND ALCOHOLISM ARE MUCH HIGHER FOR POLICE THAN FOR OTHER OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS. OCCUPATIONAL STRESS ALSO AFFECTS THE FAMILY AND HOME LIFE OF POLICE OFFICERS IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. THE FAMILY SHARES THE POLICE STIGMA, AND ISOLATION FROM THE GENERAL COMMUNITY CAN BECOME A SOURCE OF STRESS. SHIFT WORK AND IRREGULAR HOURS ARE ALSO FREQUENT SOURCES OF STRESS AND MARITAL/FAMILIAL DISHARMONY. OFTEN ANGER AND FRUSTRATION FROM WORK IS VENTED IN THE HOME. MAINTAINING AN IMAGE AND REPRESSING FEELINGS OR ISOLATING WORK EXPERIENCE FROM THE REST OF LIFE CAN RESULT IN ADDITIONAL MARITAL DISSATISFACTION AND ALIENATION. THE CHANGING ROLES OF WOMEN IN SOCIETY MAY ALSO PROVIDE SOURCES OF STRESS FOR ONE OR BOTH SPOUSES. A POLICE OFFICER MAY BE SUBJECT TO CIVIL LIABILITY FOR ACTS OR FAILURE TO ACT IN COMPLIANCE WITH HIS DUTY. STRESS-RELATED CIVIL SUITS MAY INCLUDE ABUSE OF PROCESS, DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER, INVASION OF PRIVACY, ASSAULT AND BATTERY, OR NEGLIGENCE. THE AMOUNT OF STRESS-RELATED DISABILITIES WHICH ARE COMPENSABLE APPEARS TO BE INCREASING. IN GENERAL, A DISABILITY RESULTING FROM EMOTIONAL STRESS OR ANXIETY MAY BE COMPENSABLE WHEN SUCH STRESS IS ENGENDERED BY THE NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT OR WORKING CONDITIONS. STRESS MAY BE REDUCED BY IDENTIFYING AND ELIMINATING STRESSORS, INCREASING OFFICERS' STRESS AWARENESS AND COPING SKILLS, AND PROVIDING THERAPY OR COUNSELING. FOR PART 1, SEE NCJ-45959. (JAP)