The health, wellbeing and work satisfaction of New South Wales#146; correctional officers: a pilot study of randomly selected correctional officers in one NSW prison

摘要

Abstract:The role of correctional officers has undergone rapid changes in response to increased prisoner populations and professionalization of the workforce to respond to more diverse prisoner issues and problems, including high levels of prisoners with substance abuse and mental health issues, ageing prisoners, and increased prisoner cultural diversity. Research into prisoner health has resulted in the implementation of strategies and some improvements in prisoner health. However there has been no corresponding research into the health of correctional officers. The last comprehensive research into correctional officer health was conducted by Webster et al[1] in 1982. Recently, in 2002, the New South Wales Auditor General raised correctional officers’ sick leave as an issue of concern. This pilot study tested a questionnaire which included some comparison questions with Webster’s study, as well as researching some more recent health issues. The questionnaire appeared overall to be valid and user friendly, and would be suitable for a larger study, albeit with minor alterations. The results of the research, as expected of a small pilot study (n=30) generated more questions than answers, and raised areas to be tested in a larger research study.Some results of this study were a reduction in correctional officer smoking levels from 1982 (Webster 44.3%, Australian population 39.1%), and a lower rate of smoking at 13% than the general male population in Australia in 2004, at 18.6%. Job satisfaction was almost twice as high as in 1982, yet correctional officers have almost half the level of occupational self esteem. Correctional officers had higher levels of harmful alcohol consumption (10%,) than 1982 correctional officers (5%) and of the 2004 male population in Australia (7.5%), and the 1982 population (5%). Occasional harmful alcohol consumption was almost twice as high amongst correctional officers (86%) than amongst other workers (42.8%). A high percentage of correctional officers had been assaulted in the course of their work (76%), but few sought professional debriefing, with most preferring to discuss this with family members (54%) and co-workers (46%). Although the mental health of correctional officers appears somewhat poorer than that of the general population, this, and any link between harassment or assault by prisoners and mental health and occupational self esteem and rewards requires further research.