The Relationship between Routine Work Stressors
 and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Police Officers
 Lisa J. Mills

 It is well documented that police officers are exposed to traumatic events at work, and these stressful experiences increase their risk for developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD (Davis & Breslau, 1994; Robinson, Sigman, & Wilson, 1997; McCafferty, Domingo, & McCafferty, 1989).  Research also indicates that routine work stressors such as excessive paperwork, inadequate resources, and lack of participation in decision-making significantly contribute to perceived stress among officers (Cooper, Davidson, & Robinson, 1982).  The purpose of this study is to examine whether routine work stressors predict PTSD over and above trauma exposure in officers.

 The sample for this study consists of 151 officers from two medium-sized cities in the Midwest.  Participants completed a survey instrument that included a PTSD checklist (Weathers, Litz, Herman, Huska, & Keane, 1993), measures that assessed exposure to traumatic events on and off the job, and items regarding routine work stressors.

 Regression analysis shows a significant relationship between PTSD symptoms, traumatic events on and off the job, and routine work stressors (F=7.3, p<.05).  Traumatic events accounted for 8% of the variance in this population.  Routine work stressors accounted for an additional 6% of the variance in PTSD symptoms.

 The results indicate that routine work stressors are important predictors for PTSD risk among officers.  This is significant because although it is not feasible to reduce the traumatic events that officers experience, it is possible to affect routine aspects of this occupation that may buffer the effects of stress on strain.

 

References

Cooper, C.L., & Davidson, M.J., & Robinson, P. (1982). Stress in the police service. Journal   of Occupational Medicine, 24, 30-36.

Davis, G.C., & Breslau, N. (1994).  Post-traumatic stress disorder in victims of civilian trauma  and criminal violence. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 17, 289-299.

Dohrenwend, B.P. & Shrout P.E. (1985). “Hassles” in the conceptualization and measurement    of life stress variables. American Psychologist, 40, 780-785.

Hart, P.M., Wearing, A.J., & Headey, B. (1995). Police stress and well-being: Integrating            personality, coping and daily work experiences. Journal of Occupational and             Organizational Psychology, 68, 133-156.

 McCafferty, F.L., Domingo, G.D., & McCafferty, M.J. (1989). Understanding post-traumatic stress disorder. The Police Chief, 56, 22-24.

Robinson, H.M., Sigman, M.R., & Wilson, J.P. (1997). Duty-related stressors and PTSD symptoms in suburban police officers. Psychological Reports, 81, 835-845.

Weathers, F.W., Litz, B.T., Herman, D.S., Huska, J.A., & Keane, T.M. (1993, October). The PTSD Checklist: Reliability, validity and diagnostic utility. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, San Antonio, TX.