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Perceived stress as a function of occupation
S McLaren1, W Gollan, C Horwell
1School of Behavioural and Social Sciences & Humanities University of Ballarat, Australia. s.mclaren@ballarat.edu.au
Psychological Reports
|July 24, 1998
Summary
This study found that police, ambulance, and correctional officers reported low levels of perceived stress. Stress scores did not significantly differ between these public safety occupations.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Public safety personnel, including police officers, ambulance officers, and correctional officers, often face demanding work environments.
- Understanding the psychological well-being of these groups is crucial for effective support and retention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the perceived stress levels among male police officers, ambulance officers, and correctional officers.
- To assess whether significant differences in perceived stress exist between these distinct public safety roles.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 54 male police officers, 99 ambulance officers, and 51 correctional officers.
- Perceived stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).
- Statistical analysis was employed to compare PSS scores across the three occupational groups.
Main Results:
- Overall perceived stress scores for all participants were not high.
- No statistically significant differences in perceived stress were found among police officers, ambulance officers, and correctional officers.
- Individual variations in stress levels existed, but group averages remained comparable.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that these public safety occupations may not inherently lead to higher perceived stress compared to each other.
- Further research could explore other occupational stressors or protective factors within these roles.
- Interventions aimed at stress management may be beneficial across all studied public safety professions.