myAIPMGender Differences in Law Enforcement Officer Stress and Coping Strategies
Heidi S. Bonner, Andy Brimhall | Police Quarterly
The findings indicate that female officers have significantly higher mean stress scores on several items (particularly those regarding safety factors) and are significantly more likely to use positive coping strategies compared to male officers. Some research suggests that female officers face stressors unique from their male counterparts such as sexual harassment, negative attitudes about female officers, and the ‘second shift’ of family responsibilities after work and that they experience the consequences of stress differently including higher levels of anxiety depression and suicide ideation. The article discusses how women are more inclined to use emotion-focused coping and more likely to seek social support while men are more apt to use problem focused coping, and that officers who utilise active coping styles are more successful at navigating stressors. The aim of the study is to identify the extent of gender differences in coping styles so more tailored stress management approaches can be adopted by police organizations.
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Bonner, H.,S. and Brimhall, A. (2021). Gender Differences in Law Enforcement Officer Stress and Coping Strategies. Police Quarterly. https://journals-sagepub-com.aipm.idm.oclc.org/doi/pdf/10.1177/10986111211037584