Social distress and the police

Abstract

Police work is generally assumed to be inherently stressful. However, research suggests that much of the stress associated with police work may be related to the organizational and administrative setting in which the work is conducted. This is consistent with the concept of social distress which proposes that stress is generated by the social system in which the individual functions. The implication of understanding police stress within this framework for the implementation of police stress management programs is discussed. © 1993 Human Sciences Press.