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Canadian Public Safety Personnel and Occupational Stressors: How PSP Interpret Stressors on Duty

Author

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  • Rosemary Ricciardelli

    (Department of Sociology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada)

  • Stephen Czarnuch

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering/Discipline of Emergency Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X5, Canada)

  • R. Nicholas Carleton

    (Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada)

  • James Gacek

    (Department of Justice Studies, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada)

  • James Shewmake

    (Department of Sociology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada)

Abstract

Canadian public safety personnel (e.g., correctional workers, firefighters) experience potential stressors as a function of their occupation. Occupational stressors can include organizational (e.g., job context) and operational (e.g., job content) elements. Operational stressors (e.g., exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events) may be inevitable, but opportunities may exist to mitigate other occupational stressors for public safety personnel. Research exploring the diverse forms of stress among public safety personnel remains sparse. In our current qualitative study we provide insights into how public safety personnel interpret occupational stressors. We use a semi-grounded thematic approach to analyze what public safety personnel reported when asked to further comment on occupational stress or their work experiences in two open-ended comment fields of an online survey. We provide a more comprehensive understanding of how public safety personnel experience occupational stress and the stressors that are unique to their occupations. Beyond known operational stressors, our respondents ( n = 1238; n = 828) reported substantial difficulties with organizational (interpersonal work relationship dynamics; workload distribution, resources, and administrative obligations) and operational (vigilance, work location, interacting with the public) stressors. Some operational stressors are inevitable, but other occupational stressors can be mitigated to better support our public safety personnel.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosemary Ricciardelli & Stephen Czarnuch & R. Nicholas Carleton & James Gacek & James Shewmake, 2020. "Canadian Public Safety Personnel and Occupational Stressors: How PSP Interpret Stressors on Duty," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-16, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4736-:d:379070
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. R. Nicholas Carleton & Tracie O. Afifi & Tamara Taillieu & Sarah Turner & Julia E. Mason & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Donald R. McCreary & Adam D. Vaughan & Gregory S. Anderson & Rachel L. Krakauer & Eli, 2020. "Assessing the Relative Impact of Diverse Stressors among Public Safety Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-25, February.
    2. Shane, Jon M., 2010. "Organizational stressors and police performance," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 807-818, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rosemary Ricciardelli & R. Nicholas Carleton & Barbara Anschuetz & Sylvio Gravel & Brad McKay, 2022. "Testifying after an Investigation: Shaping the Mental Health of Public Safety Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-8, October.
    2. Megan Edgelow & Emma Scholefield & Matthew McPherson & Kathleen Legassick & Jessica Novecosky, 2022. "Organizational Factors and Their Impact on Mental Health in Public Safety Organizations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-34, October.
    3. Eileen Huang & Nicole E. Edgar & Sarah E. MacLean & Simon Hatcher, 2022. "Workplace Assessment Scale: Pilot Validation Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, September.
    4. Katy Konyk & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Tamara Taillieu & Tracie O. Afifi & Dianne Groll & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2021. "Assessing Relative Stressors and Mental Disorders among Canadian Provincial Correctional Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-25, September.
    5. Hugh McCall & Janine Beahm & Caeleigh Landry & Ziyin Huang & R. Nicholas Carleton & Heather Hadjistavropoulos, 2020. "How Have Public Safety Personnel Seeking Digital Mental Healthcare Been Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Caeleigh A. Landry & Janine D. Beahm & Hugh C. McCall & Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos, 2023. "Sustaining and Expanding Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) for Public Safety Personnel across Canada: A Survey of Stakeholder Perspectives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-16, April.
    7. Janine D. Beahm & Caeleigh A. Landry & Hugh C. McCall & R. Nicholas Carleton & Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos, 2022. "Understanding and Addressing Occupational Stressors in Internet-Delivered Therapy for Public Safety Personnel: A Qualitative Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-18, April.
    8. Andréanne Angehrn & Amber J. Fletcher & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2021. "“Suck It Up, Buttercup”: Understanding and Overcoming Gender Disparities in Policing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-16, July.

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