Gender Differences in Law Enforcement Officer Stress and Coping Strategies

• Author: Heidi S. Bonner,Andy Brimhall
• DOI: 10.1177/10986111211037584
• Date: 01 March 2022
• Published date: 01 March 2022
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Gender Differences in

Law Enforcement

Officer Stress and

Coping Strategies

Heidi S. Bonner

1

and

Andy Brimhall

2

Abstract

Law enforcement officers, like many professionals, are not immune to the effect of

stress on their overall health. In fact, law enforcement officers may be particularly

vulnerable to these effects due to unique and sometimes traumatic stressors inher-

ent in their work. Further, male and female officers may experience the stressors of

the law enforcement profession, and the coping strategies used in response to stress,

differently. Using survey data collected from a sample of lawenforcement officers in a

large urban police agency in the southeastern United States, this research examines

the differences between male and female officers in terms of perception of stressors

in policing and coping strategies used in response to stress. The findings indicate that

female officers have significantly higher mean stress scores on several items (partic-

ularly those regarding safety factors) and are significantly more likely to use positive

coping strategies compared to male officers.

Keywords

law enforcement, police, stress, coping strategies, gender

1

Department of Criminal Justice, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, East Carolina University,

Greenville, North Carolina, United States

2

Department of Human Development and Family Science, College of Health and Human Performance,

East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States

Corresponding Author:

Heidi S. Bonner, Department of Criminal Justice, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, East

Carolina University, 247 Rivers Building, Greenville, NC 27858, United States.

Email: bonnerhe@ecu.edu

Police Quarterly

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DOI: 10.1177/10986111211037584

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2022, Vol. 25(1) 59 –89

60 Police Quarterly 25(1)

The unique and varied stressors inherent in policing such as the potential for

danger, the authority to use coercive force, and a propensity for social isolation

(Webster, 2013), means it is generally considered to be one of the most stressful

occupations (Bishopp et al., 2018; Violanti et al., 2011; Webster, 2013) with

numerous adverse outcomes for both the individual and the organization

(Cropanzano et al., 2003; Podsakoff et al., 2007). At the individual level,

these include health problems (Johnson, 2008; Lucini et al., 2005; Lupien et

al., 2009) and maladaptive behavior such as excessive alcohol consumption

and domestic violence (Kohan & O’Connor, 2002; Paton et al., 1999; Violanti

et al., 1985). At the organizational level, excessive stress can manifest as exces-

sive turnover, high absenteeism, and poor productivity (Tang & Hammontree,

1992).

Further, male and female officers may experience the stressors of the law

enforcement profession, and the coping strategies used in response to stress,

differently. 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 (Balkin, 1988; Bartol et al., 1992; Deaux & Ullman, 1983; Kurtz, 2012;

Martin, 1980, 1990, 2004; Wexler & Logan, 1983) and that they experience the

consequences of stress differently including higher levels of anxiety (Lonsway,

2006), depression (Violanti et al., 2009), and suicide ideation (Violanti et al.,

2008).

The broader literature on gender differences in responses to stress generally

indicates that men and women use different coping strategies. Most research has

determined that 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 (Carver et al., 1989; Folkman & Lazarus, 1980; Matud, 2004;

Ptacek et al., 1994; Stone & Neale, 1984; Tamres et al., 2002). Further, a greater

reliance on social support may result in more effective coping strategies

(Greenglass, 1993). Additionally, research on law enforcement populations

has found that officers who utilize active coping styles are more successful at

navigating stressors (Chae & Boyle, 2013).

Relatively little research, however, has examined if there are gendered differ-

ences in coping among police officers. This research gap is important to fill

because, if differences exist, then adding more options that are more responsive

to women’s needs are necessary to ameliorate the potential physical and psy-

chological problems that result from prolonged exposure to both routine and

acute stressors inherent in policing. Webster (2014) notes that police scholars

have tended to emphasize the sources of police stress over the individual differ-

ences in perceptions of stress and coping styles. Thus, it is important to under-

stand the extent of these differences so more tailored stress management

approaches can be adopted by police organizations.

2Police Quarterly 24(4)