| Abstract [eng] |
“Stress and Copping with Stress among Correctional Officers”, Milda Šimkutė, Vilnius, Vilnius University, 2019, 99 p. One of the most unique jobs of law enforcement are imprisonment institutions. Foreign researches show that correctional officers often feel themselves underestimated because of their work, face with severe physical and psychological conditions, that can cause more stress than in other professions. There is a lack of scientific insight into the stress, experienced by correctional officers in Lithuania. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine the peculiarities of the stress, experienced by the correctional officers on the specifics of the work, its sources and the strategies applied to stress coping. The research included 340 correctional officers, working in five Lithuanian imprisonment institutions (206 men and 134 women). The study was carried out using The Questionnaire of the Stress Experienced by Correctional Officers, developed by the author and an improved Stress Coping Questionnaire (Valickas, Želvienė and Grakauskas, 2010). The results of the research revealed that the largest correctional officers (strong) stress is caused by external factors, related to the punishment enforcement system and policy, public approach to correctional officers. It was identified, that the stress, that is being experienced, is related to the gender, age and seniority of the officials. In most cases the research participants apply the strategy of problem-solving coping strategy, seldom – emotional charge. The application of stress coping strategies are associated with the gender, age, education of the officials and the institution in which they work. The results confirmed that the more stress officials experience, the more likely they are to apply various coping with stress strategies. Correctional officers are an important part of the law enforcement system, thus the sufficient attention to their work-related stress should be paid, and seek for the opportunities to help officials improve work conditions and reduce stress and the associated negative consequences. |
