Work-family stress, conflict, coping and burnout in police officers

Abstract

This study examined a research model developed to understand work satisfactions and emotional and physical well-being among police officers. Data were collected from 828 men and women in police work using questionnaires completed anonymously. Although considerable diversity was present in the sample, a majority were male constables in their early careers. Five groups of predictor variables identified in previous research were considered: individual demographic and situational variables, work stressors, work-family conflict, coping responses, and psychological burnout components. Work stressors and psychological burnout were fairly consistently and significantly related to levels of self-reported work attitudes and emotional and physical well-being. Somewhat surprisingly, work-family conflict and individual coping responses were generally unrelated to measures of work attitudes and self-reported emotional and physical well-being.