Police Officers' Perceptions of Spirituality for Managing Occupational Stress and Job Performance Licole Robinson Walden University
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2019 Police Officers' Perceptions of Spirituality for Managing Occupational Stress and Job Performance Licole Robinson Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Religion Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Licole R. Robinson has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Tony Gaskew, Committee Chairperson, Criminal Justice Faculty Dr. Melanye Smith, Committee Member, Criminal Justice Faculty Dr. Michael Klemp-North, University Reviewer, Criminal Justice Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2019 Abstract Police Officers’ Perceptions of Spirituality for Managing Occupational Stress and Job Performance by Licole R. Robinson MS, Tiffin University, 2011 BS, Old Dominion University, 2010 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Criminal Justice Walden University May 2019 Abstract Police officers are exposed to occupational stressors that can negatively affect their job performance. Spirituality has received scholarly attention as a potential therapeutic strategy to assist individuals working under stressful conditions. Research indicated that police culture often overlooks the spiritual well-being of police officers. Much of the police literature on stress and spirituality has been examined using quantitative methods of inquiry. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore police officers’ perceptions regarding the use of spirituality to manage occupational stress and job performance. Fry’s spiritual leadership theory provided the framework for the study. Semistructured interviews with a purposive sample of 6 participants were analyzed for codes and themes using Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenological method. Findings revealed that participants used their spirituality to cope with police stress and improve job performance, which created a healthy work-life balance, enhanced decision-making, and provided a greater sense of self-awareness. Consistent with spiritual leadership theory, participants perceived police work as a noble calling and that spirituality through faith- based belief systems and a deep connection to the communities they serve had a meaningful impact on their well-being and commitment to the organization. Findings may encourage law enforcement leaders, administrators, and trainers to recognize the possible benefits of nurturing the spiritual dimension within officers and to consider incorporating spirituality into standard training practices, organizational policies, and employee wellness programs. Police Officers’ Perceptions of Spirituality for Managing Occupational Stress and Job Performance by Licole R. Robinson MS, Tiffin University, 2011 BS, Old Dominion University, 2010 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Criminal Justice Walden University May 2019 Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my grandfather, John Melvin Massey, who died June 19, 2006. My grandfather played an instrumental role in raising me to become the woman I am today. I would not have reached this tremendous milestone if it were not for the qualities he instilled in me at a very young age to be a powerful and educated Black woman. May God rest his soul, and his memory shall forever live within me. I would also like to dedicate this dissertation to all of the police officers who agreed to participate in this study. The success and completion of this dissertation would not have been possible if it were not for your bravery and honesty with sharing your personal experiences. Thank you for your service. Acknowledgments First, I would like to start by giving all praises to God for His unwavering grace and mercy in helping to make my dreams of attaining a PhD possible. Next, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my committee chair, Dr. Tony Gaskew, and my committee member, Dr. Melanye Smith, for their mentorship and guidance through the entire research process and for giving me words of encouragement to stay on course. I would also like to thank my university research reviewer, Dr. Michael Klemp-North, for his valuable input into my dissertation. A special thank you to Dr. Louis W. (Jody) Fry for giving me permission to use reprinted images for my dissertation and providing me with additional resources on his spiritual leadership theory. To my grandmother, Virginia Massey, thank you for raising me and showing me the value of love, ambition, and hard work. You continued to push me throughout this doctoral journey, and I could not have done it without you. To my other grandmother, Mattie Robinson, thank you for being my light and always believing in me. To my mother, Karen Robinson, and my father, Lorenza Robinson, thank you both for your love, support, understanding, and guidance in my long academic journey. All I ever wanted to do was to make my parents proud. I’m glad that I’m able to share this victory with the both of you. To all my family members and friends, I could not thank you enough for the continuous support and kind words of encouragement you’ve shown to me throughout the years. I love you all, and I am forever grateful! Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................3 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................5 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................7 Research Questions ........................................................................................................7 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................8 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................9 Definitions....................................................................................................................10 Assumptions .................................................................................................................13 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................14 Limitations ...................................................................................................................16 Significance..................................................................................................................17 Summary ......................................................................................................................18 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................20 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................21 Theoretical Foundation ................................................................................................21 Spiritual Leadership Theory ................................................................................. 22 Research Application of Spiritual Leadership Theory .......................................... 26 Defining Spirituality ....................................................................................................29 i Spirituality and Religion ..............................................................................................31 Spirituality, Stress Management, and Job Performance ..............................................33 Stress Management ............................................................................................... 33 Job Performance.................................................................................................... 36 Spirituality in Policing .................................................................................................39 Police Academy Training, Stress Management, and Spirituality ......................... 43 Police Stress and Spirituality ................................................................................ 45 Police Job Performance and Spirituality ............................................................... 47 Police Culture and Spirituality .............................................................................. 48 Police Officers’