Dynamics of individual vigour and burnout in the police service

Abstract

Police officers provide emergency services to the public, while being simultaneously exposed to various organisational and social stressors over which they have little or no control. The outcome of this may be that highly committed and loyal police officers become psychologically and physically burned-out. Adversely, others may accept the same conditions and situations as a challenge and live an energetic and proactive life while experiencing a positive affective state (vigour) toward their duties. Officers who are burned-out may fail to meet their goal to protect the public, but eventually may suffer. The general objective of this study was to investigate vigour and burnout as obliquely related outcomes of the stress and coping process in terms of its dynamic relationship with challenges or threats, and the mediating role of personal factors, social resources and coping resources in the police context. The research is a qualitative explication of theoretical concepts and constructs, followed by a quantitative empirical survey design. The survey led to a Structural Equation Model (SEM) fit between empirical data and the Moos (1994) hypothesised stress and coping model. Seven measuring instruments were used to collect data. Job demands, work overload and uncertainty were identified as causes of work stress originating within the work situation. Respondents indicated that family members play a role in social support, although it decreases when stress increases. The SEM procedure revealed that social support and personality has a limited and direct effect on well-being when experiencing a positive affective state (vigour), with coping strategies deleted from the experimental model. Adversely, stress has a direct effect on well-being (and eventually burnout) with no moderating effects by the hypothesised variables. The study proposes a new Police Vigour and Burnout Model (PVBM) as an alignment to the Moos (1994) model. It is recommended that vigour and burnout, as outcomes of the stress and coping process, be included in future studies as obliquely related variables in other spheres of society. An additional proposal is that stress inducing features within the police organisation should be scrutinized and critically addressed to prevent negative psychological affects.