June 2, 2015

Stress (noun): a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.

Chronic and intense stress are inherent to police work. Split second judgment is critical for officers to avoid or reduce harm to the public, their coworkers and to him/herself. Officers know their instant decision-making may lead to litigation, second-guessing by their employer and the public as well as the loss of personal property in court settlements. These realities further compound the stressful milieu.

The physical demands of police work – physical harm, shift work, long hours, organizational stressors, victims of violence, police suicide and other tragic events – also contribute to an increased physical and psychological stress load. While inoculating officers from these stressors is impossible, exploring salutary influences to help them become more resistant to the impacts of stress is possible. The development of socially based resiliency may be one such technique.

Evidence suggests resilience has a moderating influence on stress. The American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of threat.” Specific characteristics make individuals or organizations more or less resilient to stress than others. Taken together, these factors suggest that resilience is not so much a trait as it is a process of integration of available resources – such as groups or organizations.

Police organizations play an important role in the process of officer resilience. The climate of a police organization influences the thoughts, actions and response of its officers. Organizations can change the course of individual reaction from pathogenic decline to adaptation. Higgins (1994) and Sledge, Boydstun and Rahe (1980) also suggest that coping style and social cohesion could act to cognitively integrate the stressful experience. The salutogenic effects of resilience and social integration suggests the group can facilitate the active process of self-righting and growth.

An approach that integrates individual and organization resiliency has far wider implications than focusing solely on the pathology of stress and trauma. Together, individual and organizational resiliency can have a meaningful impact on reducing psychological harm.

For more information visit: the Office of Justice Programs literature review on correction officer wellness and safety.