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Conceptualizing Traumatic Stress in Police Officers: Preemployment, Critical Incident, and Organizational Influences

School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston, North New Zealand

Douglas Paton

School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1342, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250, Australia; douglas.paton{at}utas.edu.au

Christine Stephens

School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston, North New Zealand

The nature of police work exposes officers to the prospect of repetitive experience of critical incidents that can affect their well-being. A progressive move from an almost total focus on tertiary intervention to one that advocates proactive primary intervention and recognition that traumatic events can elicit growth outcomes has highlighted a need to expand both the range of predictor variables assessed and sequelae that they predict. Recognition that repeat exposure may complicate reactions and the fact that officers may enter police work with a prior history of traumatic experience also call for an expansion in the scope of traumatic stress research in police officers. This article examines how preemployment traumatic experience, multiple-duty versus off-duty events, and the organizational context influence traumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth. It examines the role of these factors during the 1st year of police life and commences at officers' point of entry into police work.

Key Words: police • traumatic stress • posttraumatic growth • organizational climate

Traumatology, Vol. 12, No. 3, 170-177 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1534765606294911


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