PURPOSE: This paper utilises a benchmarking approach to examine the wellbeing of UK prison officers.APPROACH: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Stress Indicator Tool is widely used in the UK to assess key psychosocial hazards in the workplace encompassing demands, control, support from managers and co-workers, relationship quality, role and change management.This study utilises this approach to examine the extent to which a sample of UK prison officers meets the HSE recommended minimum standards for the management of workrelated wellbeing. Levels of mental health and job satisfaction in the sector are also assessed using measures with extensive occupational norms. The psychosocial hazards that make the strongest contribution to mental health and job satisfaction are also considered.FINDINGS: Respondents reported lower levels of wellbeing for all of the hazard categories than recommended. Moreover, mental health and job satisfaction were considerably poorer among prison officers than other occupational groups within the emergency and security services in the UK. Considerable variation was found in the psychosocial hazards that predicted mental health and job satisfaction.IMPLICATIONS: The high levels of stressors and strains experienced by UK prison officers gives serious cause for concern. Priority areas for interventions to enhance wellbeing in the sector are considered and areas for future research discussed.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study highlights the value of a benchmarking approach to investigating work-related stressors and strains at the sector level.

The findings of this study can help occupational health practitioners and psychologists develop structured interventions to improve well-being among prison officers.

Although prison officers experience working conditions associated with work–life conflict, little research has explored this issue. This study draws upon the work–home resources model to investigate relationships between working conditions (demands and experiences of aggression) and time-based, strain-based, and behavior-based work–life conflict in U.K. prison officers (N = 1,682). Associations between working conditions, work–life conflict, and emotional exhaustion were also examined. Two recovery behaviors (affective rumination and detachment) were considered as potential moderators of associations between working conditions and emotional exhaustion. High levels of all work–life conflict dimensions were found, which were related to working conditions and emotional exhaustion. Some evidence was found that higher rumination and lower detachment exacerbated the positive association between both job demands and aggression and emotional exhaustion. The implications of the findings for the well-being and professional functioning of prison officers are discussed, together with key areas for future research.

To access the diversity of the population who define themselves as having been cyberstalked and to assess the levels of anxiety and trauma that victims reported. Participants who were self-defined cyberstalking victims (N = 353) were asked to complete an online survey, which consisted of items relating to the experience of offline harassment and cyberstalking, general anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Participants were also asked to report on the type of relationship they had with the harasser, changes in working life, relationships, finance and third parties subsequent to the experience of being stalked. Overall, the findings revealed that victims of harassment may suffer high levels of psychological distress as a consequence of the experience, with victims of cyberstalking experiencing psychological effects which are broadly comparable to the symptoms seen in PTSD, leaving the victim experiencing feelings of isolation, irritability and guilt. In addition, as with other research on the effects of adverse experiences on mental health outcomes, the respondents of the survey reported much higher levels of psychological distress than levels that have been reported in the general population. It is suggested that both offline and cyberstalking victims suffer comparable high levels of psychological distress as a consequence of the experience and, despite the wide variation in individual experience and reactions to being cyberstalked, this study was able to determine patterns of psychological distress which were comparable to the symptoms associated with PTSD. Individuals displaying symptoms of PTSD find themselves experiencing adverse effects in major domains of life activity, such as social relations and occupational activities.

Presenteeism has negative implications for staff wellbeing and the safety of prisons, but little is known about its prevalence and causes. This mixed-methods study examines these issues among 1,682 UK officers. Most respondents (84%) reported working while sick at least sometimes, with 53% always doing so. Six linked themes were identified that underpinned presenteeism in the prison sector: punitive absence management systems; pressure from management; short-staffing and fear of letting colleagues down; job insecurity; fear of disbelief and shaming; and duty and professionalism. The implications of presenteeism for the health and job performance of prison officers are considered.

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