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Published on: November 19, 2015
Associations between Perceived Occupational Prestige and Psychological Symptoms in Correctional Supervisors
Wayne A Cole1, Alicia G Dugan, Sara Namazi
1From the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut (W.A.C., A.G.D., M.G.C.); College of Health and Wellness, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island (S.N.); Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut (S.L.B.); Connecticut State Employees Association/Service Employees International Union (CSEA/SEIU), Hartford, Connecticut (R.D.R., J.C.P.); and SHRM (R.E.D.), Alexandria, Virginia.
Objective:
Low occupational prestige - societal perceptions that certain jobs and workers are of low social status - may affect correctional worker well-being. We hypothesized that (1) low prestige is associated with psychological symptoms and (2) the association is mediated by stress.
Methods:
Correctional supervisors (n = 168) completed a survey with measures of occupational prestige, psychological symptoms, work context, and sociodemographic information. Direct and indirect effects were tested using standard multiple regression.
Results:
The sample consisted primarily of males (74%) who were married or partnered (72%) with a mean age of 42.5 years (SD, 6.4 years). Direct and indirect (through stress) relationships were observed between low occupational prestige and psychological symptoms.
Conclusions:
Findings suggest that corrections workers perceive lower occupational prestige to be a work-related stressor with implications for psychological well-being. Future longitudinal studies may establish causality among variables.
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