“The job changes you”: a reflexive thematic analysis of Australian correctional officer mental health

Predicting Burnout, Well-Being, and Posttraumatic Growth in Correctional Officers

“…Contrary to the hypothesis, the provision of social support did not significantly predict correctional officer well-being. This contrasts prior research which found correctional officers drew satisfaction from supporting prison residents (Miller et al, 2022(Miller et al, , 2023 and that providing support significantly predicted well-being in emergency medical dispatchers (Shakespeare-Finch et al, 2015). However, this study assessed officers' provision of support to loved ones rather than prison residents.…”

“…However, as the participants were recruits the experiences that precipitated their posttraumatic growth did not occur in a correctional context. Similarly, Miller et al (2023) found that correctional officers experienced personal growth in domains consistent with posttraumatic growth including appreciation for life and freedom, personal strength, and ability to understand and relate to others. While this research provides preliminary evidence that posttraumatic growth is possible for correctional officers, the predictors of correctional officer posttraumatic growth remain unexplored.…”

“…However, the results are unlikely to transfer to non-Indigenous officers. More recently, Miller et al (2023) qualitatively explored the mental health of Australian officers and found that they could experience personal growth and a sense of purpose in addition to mental illness symptoms.…”

“…Where well-being has been recognized as more than the absence of pathology, it tends to have been narrowly defined by focusing on officer job satisfaction (Butler et al, 2019) or life satisfaction (Miller et al, 2022). Qualitative literature suggests that resistance resources like connection to culture, social support, and adaptive coping supports correctional officer well-being, while exposure to operational and organizational stressors like violence, a masculine organizational culture, and low managerial support reduces officer well-being (Miller et al, 2023;Ricciardelli & Power, 2020;Trounson et al, 2022). Research into other frontline occupations suggests that adaptive coping, social support, resilience, and workplace belongingness promote well-being (e.g., Harnett et al, 2023;Huynh et al, 2014;Shakespeare-Finch & Daley, 2017); while maladaptive coping and perceived danger reduce well-being (e.g., Laffey et al, 2020;Trounson et al, 2019).…”