Police Officer Stress and Coping in a Stress-Awareness Era

Abstract

This study was conducted as controversy and turmoil engulfed police worldwide. Police-community conflict was widespread and conceivably increased officers’ stress levels. Because stress affects officers’ health and job performance, it is important to understand the phenomenon. This study was designed to ascertain officers’ stress levels, coping mechanisms, and perspectives regarding police-community relations, their perceived stress-related needs, and their perceptions of departmental assistance. Participants (N = 128) were police officers across several jurisdictions of various sizes in the northeastern United States. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected; analytic methods included statistical correlations and regression, as well as qualitative, thematic analysis. Results indicated the following: Participants experienced stress across multiple areas; some coping mechanisms predicted higher expressions of stress, as did certain perspectives of police-community relations and years in law enforcement. Participants’ perspectives of their needs and their suggestions for action contributed to data-driven policy recommendations regarding both prevention and symptom reduction approaches.