The mental burden resulting from the nature of the work performed among Prison Officers.

Abstract

The profession of prison officers, along with other uniformed services, is one of the occupations with a higher psychosocial risk (Basińska, 2013). Prison officers are more vulnerable to occupational stress than many other occupational groups (Langan-Fox, Cooper, 2011). The purpose of this study was to assess the psychological burden resulting from the nature of work among prison officers. The study involved 227 prison officers working in the security division, aged between 25 and 56. The questionnaire study included questionnaires on mental workload (including COPSOQ II, NAQ Bullying Measurement Questionnaire, OLBI Occupational Burnout Questionnaire, DASS-21 Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, inmate aggression questionnaire) and coping with workload (DERS Emotional Regulation Difficulty Scale, SPP-25 Stress Measurement Scale).A significant relationship between aggression, directed by inmates, and the occurrence of depression in officers has been shown. Officers characterized by better emotion regulation in terms of self-awareness and a sense of meaningfulness of their work cope better (at the emotional level) with inmate aggression. Their sense of meaningfulness in their work provides a buffer against negative consequences from exposure to inmate aggression. In addition, role clarity, i.e., the degree of clarity of responsibilities and the demands and goals placed on officers by management, the support of co-workers and good leadership quality, were shown to be significant predictors of high job satisfaction and low job burnout.

Keywords: Prison Officers, mental workload, psychosocial risk, occupational stress, coping with workload

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006601