An Exploratory Study on the Effect of an Approach-Avoidance Coping Program on Perceived Stress and Physical Energy among Police Officers
- 1 Department of Health and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, USA
- 2 Department of Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, USA
Abstract
The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the effects of an approach-avoidance coping skills program on changes in perceived stress and physical energy among police officers. Participants included 11 police officers in a medium-sized US city who volunteered to engage in a coping skills program due to experiencing excessive job-related stress. The officers completed an initial 2-hour seminar on approach-avoidance coping skills and met privately with a stress management coach. Analyses indicated reduced use of approach coping strategies that approached significance. Participants reported significantly higher levels of physical energy at posttest compared to pretest. Higher levels of physical energy were also associated with greater use of avoidance coping at posttest. Personal narratives by selected officers indicated a particularly stressful work environment, and that the officers adopted many of the approach and avoidance coping skills in reducing job-related stressors. The results suggest that the approach-avoidance coping framework may be an effective means for managing acute police stress.
- Anshel, M. H. (2000). A Conceptual Model and Implications for Coping with Stressful Events in Police Work. Criminal Justice and Behavior: An International Journal, 27, 375-400. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0093854800027003006
- Anshel, M. H. (2011). The Disconnected Values Model: A Brief Intervention for Improving Healthy Habits and Coping with Stress in Law Enforcement. In J. Kitaeff (Ed.), Handbook of Police Psychology (pp. 525-540). New York: Routledge Psychology Press.
- Anshel, M. H., Kang, M., & Miesner, M. (2010). The Approach-Avoidance Framework for Identifying Athletes’ Coping Style as a Function of Gender and Race. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 51, 341-349.
- Anshel, M. H., Robertson, M., & Caputi, P. (1997). Sources of Acute Stress and Their Appraisals and Reappraisals among Australian Police as a Function of Previous Experience. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 70, 337-356. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8325.1997.tb00653.x
- Anshel, M. H., Umscheid, D., & Brinthaupt, T. (2013). Effect of a Combined Coping Skills and Wellness Program on Perceived Stress and Physical Energy among Police Emergency Dispatchers: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 28, 1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11896-012-9110-x
- Aumiller, G., Corey, D., Allen, S. Brewster, J., Cuttler, M., Gupton, H. & Honig, A. (2007). Defining the Field of Police Psychology: Core Domains & Proficiencies. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 22, 65-76.
- Behr, R. (2000). Under the Headset: Surviving Dispatcher Stress. Wildomar, CA: Staggs.
- Bramson, R. M. (1981). Coping with Difficult People. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
- Clandinin, D. J., & Connelly, F. M. (2000). Narrative Inquiry: Experience and Story in Qualitative Research. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Cohen, S., & Williamson, G. (1988). Perceived Stress in a Probability Sample of the United States. In S. Spacapan, & S. Oskamp (Eds.), The Social Psychology of Health: Claremont Symposium on Applied Social Psychology (pp. 31-67). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
- 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.
- Hassell, K. D., & Brandl, S. G. (2009). An Examination of the Workplace Experiences of Police Patrol Officers: The Role of Race, Sex, and Sexual Orientation. Police Quarterly, 12, 408-430. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8325.1995.tb00578.x