Burnout, stress, gender differences and the impact of night shift work among Irish prison officers
Authors
Creedon, Vanessa
Issue Date
2022
Degree
BA (Hons) in Psychology
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights holder
Rights
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Abstract
Prison officers serve a vital role within society, however many are suffering from burnout and stress. The aim of the current study was to investigate burnout and stress among an Irish prison officer sample, while examining the influence of gender, tenure, and night shift work on officer mental health. Using a survey design, 93 participants, currently serving as officers, completed an online questionnaire which featured the Perceived Stress Scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Results indicate that females officers are more likely, than male officers, to report hearing sexually inappropriate language from colleagues. The study highlights the need for research within the area of Irish prison officers, as the literature is lacking and has frequent inconsistent findings. The findings of the current study suggest the need for interventions among prison staff to tackle sexism issues within the workplace.