QUALITATIVE DIFFERENCES IN MEN AND WOMEN POLICE OFFICERS EXPERIENCE OF OCCUPATIONAL STRESS

Gender differences in exposure to sources of occupational stress and experience of adverse consequences are explored in a study of 358 male and 139 female police constables engaged in uniformed patrol or detective duties from one large provincial English police force. Stressors were divided into those arising from police operational duties and those deriving from organizational and management issues. Women uniformed constables are less likely to be exposed to police operational stressors involving the potential for violence, but if exposed they report more severe adverse reactions than uniformed policemen. Women uniformed officers and women detectives are more likely to be involved with victims of violence or sexual offences and the former report higher levels of associated self-perceived stress than their male counterparts. There are relatively few differences in exposure to organizational stressors except that women detectives and uniformed officers report higher rates of sex discrimination and prejudice than policemen. Multivariate analyses show gender and occupational role differences in qualitative features that contribute to reported psychological distress. Results are discussed in terms of possible explanations for gender differences.