What Shapes Police Officer Willingness to Use Stress Intervention Services? an Empirical Study of Current Factors in Pennsylvania ______
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WHAT SHAPES POLICE OFFICER WILLINGNESS TO USE STRESS INTERVENTION SERVICES? AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF CURRENT FACTORS IN PENNSYLVANIA _________________________________________________ A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board __________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of DOTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ____________________________________________________ by Jane M. Tucker May 2012 Examining Committee Members: Jennifer Wood, Advisory Chair, Criminal Justice Department Elizabeth Groff, Criminal Justice Department Philip Harris, Criminal Justice Department Gary Cordner, External Member, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania ii © Jane M. Tucker May 2012 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT WHAT SHAPES POLICE OFFICER WILLINGNESS TO USE STRESS INTERVENTION SERVICES? AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF CURRENT FACTORS IN PENNSYLVANIA Jane M. Tucker Temple University, 2012 Doctoral Advisory Committee Chair: Jennifer Wood, Ph.D. Doctoral Advisory Committee Member: Elizabeth Groff, Ph.D. Doctoral Advisory Committee Member: Philip Harris, Ph.D. External Reader, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Gary Cordner, Ph.D. In the last 40 years the subject of police stress has gained increasing attention and a significant body of literature has emerged. This literature has documented the sources, types, and consequences of police stress. As a result of the negative consequences of police stress, a number of stress intervention services have been developed to treat police officers suffering from high stress. In spite of overwhelming evidence of the negative consequences of untreated police stress, stress intervention services remain under-utilized by police officers. Researchers cite concerns of stigma, confidentiality issues, and a general lack of confidence in service providers as reasons police do not use services. While numerous, most of the references to these factors are anecdotal in nature. Few empirical studies have focused on a systematic examination of variables that influence officer willingness to use services (positively or negatively), particularly in light of the growth of service offerings. Understanding what shapes officer willingness to use services remains a critical step in addressing the negative effects of police stress. This current study was designed to explore and examine factors that influence officer willingness to use services, with a focus on perceived organizational support (POS). The current study was undertaken with the cooperation of the Pennsylvania State Fraternal iv Order of Police (FOP) as the subject of police stress is of vital importance to the organization. A mixed-methods design was used to explore both the views of police officers regarding the availability and use of stress intervention services, and also the law enforcement agency response to issues of police stress. Qualitative methods included one-on-one interviews with 46 police officers throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which were used to inform the development of a police officer questionnaire (POQ). The POQ was distributed to 4,000 randomly-selected police officers throughout the state to obtain their views of the availability of services, willingness to use services, and perception of organizational support. Additionally, a survey was sent to all law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania to obtain current information on the nature and extent of stress intervention services for police and explore organizational responses to police stress. Findings indicate that police officers in the Commonwealth have a wide variety of stress intervention services available through their agencies. Officers who have concerns regarding the confidentiality and stigma related to the use of services reported lower willingness to use services. In contrast, officers who perceive support from the organization and view the organization as supportive of the use of services are more willing to use stress intervention services. Findings contradicted several long-held beliefs about the police subculture and use of stress intervention services. Officers did not prefer peer-based services and did not express a lack of confidence in professional service providers (psychologists/therapists). Secondly, officers in the sample had lower than expected self-reports of alcohol consumption and incidents of divorce. Results of this v study have some policy and practical implications for increasing police officer willingness to use stress intervention services. Additionally, the results suggest positive changes in police subculture and officer use of stress intervention services. vi DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to Master Sergeant Scott R. Ball who gave his life for his country in Afghanistan on August 27, 2007. I was privileged to have worked side- by-side with Scott as a police officer for Lower Merion Township. Scott joined the force in 1995 after having served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Desert Storm (same division my father served in). He was extremely fun to work with, always interjecting humor into the sometimes monotonous, but stressful job. His ultimate goal was to trade in the Lower Merion Township patch and badge for the campaign hat of the Pennsylvania State Troopers. In 2000, Scott realized his dream of being a Pennsylvania State Trooper. He was working at the Carlisle Barracks when his Army National Guard unit was deployed to Afghanistan. When his re-supply convoy came under attack from insurgents, Scott gave his life protecting the convoy and attempting to rescue two fallen soldiers amidst heavy fire. Knowing Scott, I have no doubt that he understood the risk he took to save his fellow soldiers and proceeded anyway; this is the man he was. Anyone who ever had the honor of working with Scott remembers him fondly and misses him tremendously. Every time I have wavered, grown tired of this seemingly endless pursuit, I think about the sacrifice Scott made. His memory has compelled me to press on. vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to my dissertation committee (Dr. Wood, Dr. Groff, and Dr. Harris) for their guidance during the process of this dissertation. I am extremely grateful for the time and effort they expended keeping me on target. I would also like to thank Dr. Gary Cordner for his willingness to serve as the external reader. Additionally, I appreciate all faculty members who instructed classes I attended during my years at Temple University. Each course challenged me to move from an eager student to a critical-thinking scholar. I owe a debt of gratitude to the state lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, particularly to Dan Zakraysek and President Les Neri for allowing me to use the FOP mailing list to distribute questionnaires to police officers across the state. Additionally, I am deeply indebted to the officers who allowed me to interview them. I salute their ability to be open to discussing sensitive topics with a virtual stranger. The information I obtained during the interview process has provided me with data to review for years. I must also thank my partner, Stephanie, for her support during my doctoral pursuit. My educational endeavors have often interfered with the ability to spend time together, take vacations, and reach our mutual goals. We have been through the deaths of four immediate family members over the last five years, all of them unexpectedly. Those deaths have required us to take on additional family responsibilities. Yet, through all this she has remained steadfast in her support of my pursuit of a Ph.D. I am entirely indebted to her for allowing me the time to pursue this degree and maintaining our household while I have been unemployed, underemployed, and directing our cold hard cash to Temple University. viii I must acknowledge and thank my best friend Julie. Julie is probably more familiar with my research than any other person, except me, of course. She has patiently listened to me expound on the topic, allowing me to use her as a sounding board. She has read versions of my prospectus and dissertation, providing much needed feedback. Whether I have been stressed and ready to quit or elated over having advanced a step further in the program, Julie has been there. I would also like to thank my father. Divorce separated us for a significant part of my childhood, but he has consistently supported me since I was 17. He hasn’t always understood me, but he has supported and loved me anyway. His support came in little ways, like occasionally sending me $20 bills during my undergraduate years, even though I was fiercely independent and wanted to do it on my own. They always seemed to appear at just the right time. He has supported me in much larger ways by being there for me during some of the most difficult moments of my life. And now, he shows support by telling me he is proud of me. I am hoping that very soon I can answer the question he asks every time we talk, “Aren’t you done with that thing yet?” ix TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................. iii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................... vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...........................................................................................vii LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................... xiii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................