Crime Prevention Research Review: Effects of Stress Management Training on Physiological, Psychological and Behavioral Outcomes Among Police Officers and Recruits

Stressful work and life events have the potential to affect police officers and recruits physiological, psychological, and behavioral wellbeing negatively. As such, studies have examined the effects of stress management training in these areas. Law enforcement organizations provide a variety of stress management interventions aimed at helping officers to cope with these stressful events. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the evidence assessing the efficacy of these interventions. Using a variety of methods to search literature over a 10 month period between August 1, 2009 and May 31, 2012, the researchers located 678 titles and abstracts. Upon further screening to include only randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental designs, the researchers focused on 12 primary studies in a meta-analysis. Results show that the stress management interventions were neither effective nor ineffective.

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Author: George T. Patterson, Irene W. Chung, Philip G. Swan

Federal Sponsor Agency: COPS

Provider: The Campbell Collaboration Crime and Justice Group

Publication Date: 2013