Date of Award
Fall 12-1-2007
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Criminology & Criminal Justice
First Advisor
Lisa Kay Decker
Second Advisor
Mark Steven Hamm
Third Advisor
David Polizzi
Abstract
Identifying what stressors affect an officer and how he or she copes is essential in maintaining psychologically healthy officers. Studies have found that police officers consider the organizationally based aspects of the job to greatly influence their level of stress. The present research used the Police Stress Survey and COPE Inventory to identify common stressors and coping strategies among forty-five officers in the state of Indiana. The study attempted to determine whether or not a chronic overall stress -produced by frequent organizational stressors existed, and if this stress led to an increased use of maladaptive coping strategies. Results indicated a higher occurrence of organizational stressors, as well as a moderate to high level of overall stress. However, this did not generate an increase in the use of maladaptive coping methods, as officers regularly implemented psychologically constructive strategies such as humor and positive reinterpretation and growth.
Recommended Citation
Möller, Ami, "Police in Peril: Determining the Work-induced Stressors Affecting Officers and the Subsequent Use Of Individualized Coping Strategies" (2007). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3550.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/3550
Included in
Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons, Social Psychology Commons