English rural policing: job stress and psychological distress

Houdmont, J; Jachens, L; Randall, R; Colwell, J

Abstract

Purpose: Job stressor exposure is associated with mental health in police officers. Police stress research rarely draws a distinction between urban and rural policing, raising the possibility that stressors specific to the rural context remain unidentified and their implications unknown. This may hinder actions to protect the mental health of those involved in policing rural communities. Design/methodology/approach: Among rural policing teams in an English county police force this study used an exploratory sequential mixed method design to (1) identify and quantify exposure to rural policing stressors and (2) examine links between job stressor exposure and psychological distress. Findings: Interviews (N=34) identified three rural policing job stressor themes: (1) job demands, (2) isolation and (3) critical decisions. Survey data (N=229) indicated significant differences in exposure by rank to demand and critical decision stressors, with police community support officers (PCSOs) reporting lower exposure than officers of constable and sergeant rank. Overall, 44% of respondents reported symptoms of psychological distress indicative of likely minor psychiatric disorder; higher levels of psychological distress were associated with higher stressor exposure across all three job stressor themes for PCSOs and constables and within the job demand theme for sergeants. Originality/value: Findings point towards practical actions focussed on resource provision for officers and a research strategy to ameliorate the impact of stressors in English rural policing.

Citation

Houdmont, J., Jachens, L., Randall, R., & Colwell, J. (2021). English rural policing: job stress and psychological distress. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, 44(1), 49-62. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-03-2020-0037

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 2, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 24, 2020
• Publication Date: Jan 25, 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 5, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 24, 2020
• Journal: Policing: An International Journal
• Print ISSN: 1363-951X
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 49-62
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-03-2020-0037
• Keywords: GHQ-12; job stress; police; psychological distress; rural
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4941209
• Publisher URL: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/PIJPSM-03-2020-0037/full/html