Negative mood regulation expectancies predict anger among police officers and buffer the effects of job stress

This study investigated links between occupational stress, negative mood regulation expectancies, coping, anger, and distress. Participants were 56 police officers from two small, urban departments. They filled out the Negative Mood Regulation (NMR) Scale, as well as measures of police stress, coping, anger, and distress. Simultaneous multiple regression analyses revealed that high NMR expectancies predicted subjects' use of adaptive active coping strategies. High NMR Scale scores were also independently associated with lower levels of anger and distress, and anger significantly predicted distress. Results suggest that strong mood regulation expectancies buffer the effects of even high levels of occupational stress. Interventions directed toward raising mood regulation expectancies may help protect officers from the consequences of job stress. Results may also have implications for combat stress.