With Duty Comes Hardship:

The Effects of Job Related Stress on Law Enforcement Personnel

Kelsey B. GillinghamOctober 23, 2010

PSY492: Advanced General PsychologyInstructor: Mary Viventi

Argosy University

AbstractThis paper reviews research and various reports in literature concerningthe job related stressors that law enforcement personnel encounter on a

daily basis. It focuses primarily on specific physical, emotional,psychological and social problems that result from job related stressorsencountered within law enforcement. It takes into consideration gender

differences and methods in reducing stress that incorporate the inclusionof intimate relationship, counseling, and exercise. It explores current gaps

in research and literature that address the specific job related stressor,which events or incidents are most likely to cause significant stress withinan officer; as well as variations in culture, religion, and race. Job related

stress can play a huge role not only in the individual officer’s life and wellbeing but also in the overall well-being of the community that the individual

serves. This paper examines the ways in which job related stressnegatively effects law enforcement personnel and why such factors are

important.

Introduction

Today’s modern world is saturated with unfortunate and horrific acts of violence, terrorism, abuse, sexual assaults, child neglect, kidnapping, torture and tragic deaths.

It is the awful truth that people in our world frequently kill, murder, torture, rape, molest, sodomize, shoot, stab, rob, burglarize, trick, deceive, neglect, and steal from each other; as a means of enjoyment, self fulfillment, greed, lust, ignorance and even necessity.

Crime would take over our world completely if it were not for the efforts of law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

In close comparison to the military; law enforcement is currently considered to be one of the most dangerous, stressful and health-threatening occupations (Tanigoshi, Kontos, and Remley Jr, 2008).

“Policing is psychologically stressful work, filled with danger, high demands, human misery and exposure to death (Page, 2010).”

(After Collapse of Worlds Trade Center)

These job related stressors within law enforcement have a negative effect on officers and cause significant physical, emotional, social and psychological problems that can negatively impact their life and their ability to perform their job effectively.

Physical Symptoms

* Research has shown that the stressors related to law enforcement can lead to physical and psychosomatic conditions; such as ulcers and headaches, as well as negative psychological states such as burnout, depression, anger and frustration (Burke, 1998).

* Research has also shown a link between job related stress in officers and burnout, negative attitudes towards people, life, and work, as well as coronary heart disease, hypertension, and ulcers (Li-Ping Tang and Hammontree, 1992).

Social Effects

* Research has shown that the stressors encountered within law enforcement can lead to a deteriorating work performance known as absenteeism (Burke, 1998). Li-Ping Tang and Hammontree (1992) report that approximately 70 percent of all work related absenteeism is linked

to stress-related illnesses.

* Often times, officers may feel torn between their commitment to their professional duties and their responsibility and loyalty to their families (Shaffer, 2010).

Emotional Effects

* First responders (such as law enforcement officers) to incidents involving “destruction to physical property, violence, or death commonly experience high levels of trauma-related stress, a circumstance that often results in associated emotional suffering and social problems (Chopko & Schwartz, 2009).”

* Mann and Neece (1990) state that, many officers exposed to such job related stressors develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

and similar stress-related problems.

Psychological Effects

• Research has shown that the stressors encountered within law enforcement can lead to negative psychological states that include depression, anger, frustration and burnout (Burke, 1998).

• Research has shown that, as a “result of such cognitive distortions, emergency care workers may also become self-destructive and predisposed to increased violence and antisocial behavior (Shaffer, 2010).”

• If an officer’s work related stress is not managed properly, studies have shown that it can cause them to become prone to depression, alcoholism, anxiety disorders and burnout; all of which may increase their risk for committing suicide (Ramos, 2010).

Differences in Gender

A study on the effects of job related stress in law enforcement and fire fighters determined that gender may in fact influence the development of an officer’s psychopathology after a traumatic event has occurred (Shaffer, 2010).

Women experience a higher rate of anxiety, depression and somatic complaints as a result to trauma exposure, whereas men are reported to have a higher incidence of alcohol and drug abuse as a result (Shaffer, 2010).

women have twice the rate of PTSD that men have after witnessing or experiencing a critical incident and they are more vulnerable to developing it, because they perceive that their lives are more stressful than those of men (Shaffer, 2010).

Differences in Race

The correlation between stress, race and gender, both white and African-American women were reported to have higher levels of stress than white men, however for unknown reasons; African-American men showed much lower levels of stress

than white men (Page, 2010).

Although African-American men appear to experience lower levels of stress overall, they do tend to exhibit higher levels of burn out then white men (Page,

2010).

Lasting Effects Problems that an officer may have as a result of

exposure to a critical incident or disaster in the line of duty can range from, “those that are transient and self-correcting to those that are "longer-term, incapacitating, and meet the criteria for a psychological or psychiatric disorder" (Shaffer, 2010).

The health and mental and emotional state of law enforcement officers can effect the officer’s ability to do their job effectively, keep their partners safe, and the overall performance and liability of the specific agency.

Shaffer (2010) appropriately describes that,

“emotional conflicts and feelings of anger, hatred, and intense apprehension reduce emergency care workers' ability to respond effectively, even as they often put their personal safety in jeopardy and ignore personal risk while attempting to help victims (Shaffer, 2010).”

(After Collapse of Worlds Trade Center)

More Lasting Effects

The health and mental and emotional states of law enforcement officers is a critical factor in the officer’s ability to carryout their job related functions within the community and can drastically effect the wellbeing of society as a whole.

Job related stress can play a huge role in not only an officer’s life and well-being but also the overall well-being of the community that the individual serves.

Reducing Stress with Relationships

Support from loved ones, family, friends, co-workers or an intimate partner can greatly effect the amount of impact that job related stressors have on an officer (Shaffer, 2010).

Studies have shown that involvement in a significant emotional relationship may influence the degree to which one receives effective emotional support, which may lessen symptoms of stress and depression, regardless of gender (Shaffer, 2010).

Reducing Stress with Counseling/DebriefingReducing Stress with Counseling/Debriefing

“An important consideration for counselors working with emergency care workers is that, in order to be successful at their career, emergency care workers may often shut down their emotions (Shaffer, 2010).”

Debriefing can be used as a means of addressing the event from a “tactical” stand point, where their actions are explained and then their feelings regarding their actions and the overall result of the incident.

Reducing Stress with Exercise

Research has shown that officers who participate regularly in circuit weight-training have a significant increase in strength on cardiovascular fitness, as well as significant improvements in mood, decreases in somatization, anxiety, depression, and hostility (Norvelle & Bells, 1993).

Additionally, officers who participated in the circuit weight training also had a decrease in reports of physical symptoms and improvements in their overall job satisfaction (Norvelle & Belles, 1993).

To Sum it Up…

An officer’s physical, emotional, social, and psychological health is a critical component in the officer’s ability to effectively do

their job and to protect and serve the community.

References Burke, R. J. (1998). Work and Non-Work Stressors and Well-Being Among Police

Officers: The Role of Coping. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, Vol. 11. No. 4 (1). 345-362. Chopko, B. A. and Schwartz, R. C. (2009). The Relation Between Mindfulness and

Posttraumatic Growth: A Study of First Responders to Trauma-Inducing Incidents. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, Vol. 31, No. 4 (1). 363-376.

Li-Ping Tang, T. and Hammontree, M. L. (1992). The Effects of Hardiness, Police Stress,

and Life Stress on Police Officers' Illness and Absenteeism. Public Personnel Management, Winter 1992, Vol. 21, No.4 (1). 493-510.

Mann, J. P. and Neece, J. (1990). Workers' Compensation for Law Enforcement Related

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, Vol. 8 (1). 447-456. Norvelle, N. and Belles, D. (1993). Psychological and Physical Benefits of Circuit

Weight Training in Law Enforcement Personnel. American Psychological Association. Journal Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 61, No. 3 (1). 520-527.

Page, D. (2010). Surviving Law Enforcement. Law Enforcement Technology, February

2010, Vol. 37(2). 26-32. Ramos, O. (2010). Police Suicide Are You at Risk? FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, May

2010, Vol. 21 (3). 21-23. Shaffer, T. J. (2010). A Comparison of Firefighters and Police Officers: The Influence of

Gender and Relationship Status. American Counseling Association’s Adultspan Journal; Alexandria: Spring 2010, Vol. 9 (1). 36-50.