Sources of acute stress and their appraisals and reappraisals among Australian police as a function of previous experience

Abstract

Two studies investigated possible factors that are associated with experiencing acute stress in police work. Occupational acute stressors in law enforcement were identified by police officers in Study 1 (N = 39). Using standardized mean (Z) scores as the dependent variable, MANOVA indicated that four of the 17 acute stressors identified in Study 1 were significantly different than the remaining stressors in terms of their combined intensity and frequency. The purpose of Study 2 was to examine the intensity of primary and secondary appraisal and reappraisal of police officers (N = 95) related to these previously identified stressful events, and the extent to which these measures differed as a function of experience in the police force. An adapted version of the Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM) measured police officers' primary appraisals, secondary appraisals, reappraisals, and overall stress perceptions that were associated with these four acute stressors. Multiple regression analyses indicated that two primary appraisal dimensions, threat and challenge, were significant predictors of overall stressfulness, with centrality found as an important appraisal dimension. MANOVA revealed that years of experience as a police officer influenced the extent of the officers' beliefs that they could cope with stressful events.

Police Interviews With Victims And Suspects of Violent and Sexual Crimes; Interviewees' Experiences and Interview Outcomes

“…In Study 3, police officers reported experiences from stressful event exposures during patrol duty that are in line with findings from previous studies (see, e.g. Anderson et al, 2002;Anshel et al, 1997;Brysiewicz, 2002;Salston & Figley, 2003). Study 3 brings up one aspect that has not been salient in previous research; that is, stressful exposures also occur in investigative duty.…”

“…Acute hyperarousal, subsequent traumatic events, job dissatisfactions, brooding over work, and lack of social interaction support in the private life 12 months post trauma, were salient predictors of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Unpredictable situations, domestic disputes, the possibility of being injured, and confrontations with armed persons were the highest rated stressors among 39 traumatized Australian police officers (Anshel, Robertson & Caputi, 1997).…”

Personality traits and individual differences predict threat-induced changes in postural control

“…These traits interact with environmental factors to influence how individuals appraise a situation and subsequently behave, with traits more relevant to the environmental context exerting a greater influence (Kenrick & Funder, 1988;Tett & Guterman, 2000). Individual differences, such as experience with a given situation, influence individuals' behavior in a similar manner to personality traits (Anshel, Robertson, & Caputi, 1997;Lazarus, 1993;Wilken, Smith, Tola, & Mann, 2000). While a range of individual characteristics influence how an individual behaves across different situations, a smaller subset of situation relevant characteristics may play a more influential role when confronted with a threat to posture.…”

“…Experience with a particular situation or stressor can also influence the stress response and subsequent behavior of an individual (Anshel et al, 1997;Lazarus, 1993;Wilken et al, 2000). Of particular relevance, construction workers with more experience working on scaffolding have shown smaller increases in physiological arousal as well as amplitude variability and velocity of postural sway compared to those with less experience when standing at different surface heights (Min et al, 2012).…”

Dangerous work and name disclosure

“…Stress has the potential to induce effects that are either self-challenging or motivating, and thereby positive, or frustrating or demotivating and thereby negative (Selye, 1974). Research had shown that police work can be considered a profession with stress (Anshel, Robertson, & Caputi, 1997;Reese, 1986). This stress could cause a number of negative effects for police officers, including lowered productivity, lowered organizational commitment, and serious health problems (Band & Manuele, 1999;Golembiewski & Kim, 1991;Hackett & Violanti, 2003;Jaramillo, Nixon, & Sams, 2004;Richmond, Wodak, Kehoe, & Heather, 1998;Storch & Panzarella, 1996;Waters & Ussery, 2007;Zukauskas, Dapsys, Jasmontatite, & Susinskas, 2001).…”