nock, 1990, pp. 24 42).
Stress experienced by police officers is often manifested in reduced performance effectiveness at the professional level, and in increased levels of problems in the personal lives of police officers (Gaines and Jermier, 1983, pp. 243 261; Southworth, 1990, pp. 19 25). Thus, the development of strategies that enhance an individual police officer's ability to cope effectively with stress may be expected to lead to both improved performance at the professional level, and greater stability in interpersonal relationships.
The focus of this study was an examination of the relationship between job related stress experienced by police officers and both the professional performance of police officers and problems experienced by police officers in their personal lives. The purpose of defining these relationships was to provide a basis for the development of effective strategies to be used by police officers in the management of stress.
Two research hypotheses were formulated for and tested through the conduct of this study. These hypotheses were stated as follows:
1. It is hypothesized that increased levels of job related stress experienced by police officers will be associated with decreased professional performance levels.
2. It is hypothesized that increased levels of job related stress experienced by police officers will be associated with increased problems experienced by police officers in their personal lives.
Stressors resident in the non professional lives of police officers hold the potential to affect the professional performance of police officers. The relationship between such stressors and professional performance was not examined in this study.
A major methodological approach employed in the conduct of this study was the review of literature relevant to stress generally and to job related stress experienced by police officers generally. Additionally, original data were generated t...