Post-traumatic effects in policing: exploring disclosure, coping and social support. (15th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pitel, Marian C.; Ewles, Grace B.; Hausdorf, Peter A.; Heffren, Cole D. J.
• Is Part Of: Police practice & research. Volume 22:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 308
• Page End: 323
• Publication Date: 2021-01-15
• Subjects: Traumatic events -- distress disclosure -- coping -- social support -- impairment; Police -- Periodicals; Police administration -- Periodicals; Law enforcement -- Periodicals; Crime prevention -- Periodicals; 363.2
• DOI: 10.1080/15614263.2020.1848564
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1561-4263

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study explored the relationships between traumatic events experienced at work and police officer distress disclosure, enacted coping, including social support seeking, and impairment. A total of 266 web surveys were completed by sworn officers from a large municipal police force in Canada with 76 reporting having experienced at least one traumatic event at work in the year prior to the survey. The most significant finding was the relationship between officers feeling comfortable disclosing distressing personal information and seeking social support from others, although social support did not relate to their impairment. Reported attempts to cope on their own (self-coping) and to avoid the issue (avoidant coping) were positively related to impairment suggesting that these forms of coping are less effective for police officer work-related trauma. Implications for future research and practice for coping and social support in police occupations are discussed.