Fatigue and burnout in police officers: the mediating role of emotions

Beata Basińska; Izabela Wiciak; Anna Maria Dåderman

doi:10.1108/pijpsm-10-2013-0105

Fatigue and burnout in police officers: the mediating role of emotions

Abstract

Purpose – The policing profession is associated with psychosocial hazard. Fatigue and burnout often affect police officers, and may impair the functioning of the organization and public safety. The relationship between fatigue and burnout may be modified by job-related emotions. While negative emotions have been extensively studied, the role of positive emotions at work is relatively less known. Additionally, there is insufficient knowledge about the role of the intensity of emotions. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of job-related emotions in the relationship between fatigue and burnout in police officers. Design/methodology/approach – In all, 169 police officers (26 women) completed a test battery that assessed acute fatigue, burnout (Oldenburg Burnout Inventory: exhaustion and disengagement), and emotions (Job-related Affective Well-being Scale). Findings – Acute fatigue was associated more strongly with exhaustion than with disengagement. Low-arousal negative emotions partially mediated the relationship between fatigue and exhaustion. High-arousal positive and negative emotions were partial mediators between fatigue and disengagement experienced by police officers. Research limitations/implications – The results show that high-arousal emotions were associated with changes in work motivation, while low-arousal negative emotions reduced energetic ability to work. Originality/value – This paper enhances understanding of burnout among police officers and the mediating role of emotions. The patterns of the relationships between fatigue, burnout and emotions are discussed in the context of the conservation of resources theory and the tripartite model of anxiety and depression.

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Authors (3)

Beata Basińska dr hab.
- Faculty of Management and Economics
- Gdańsk University of Technology
Izabela Wiciak
- Wyższa Szkoła Policji w Szczytnie Wydział Administracji
Anna Maria Dåderman
- University West Department of Social and Behavioural Studies

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Category:

Articles

Type:

artykuł w czasopiśmie wyróżnionym w JCR

Published in:

POLICING-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLICE STRATEGIES & MANAGEMENT no. 37, edition 3, pages 665 - 680,
ISSN: 1363-951X

Language:

English

Publication year:

2014

Bibliographic description:

Basińska B., Wiciak I., Dåderman A. M.: Fatigue and burnout in police officers: the mediating role of emotions// POLICING-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLICE STRATEGIES & MANAGEMENT. -Vol. 37, iss. 3 (2014), s.665-680

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