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Exposure to psychosocial risks at work in prisons: does contact with inmates matter? A pilot study among prison workers in Spain
Author(s) -
Ghaddar Ali,
Ronda Elena,
Nolasco Andreu,
Álvares Nahum,
Mateo Inmaculada
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
stress and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1532-2998
pISSN - 1532-3005
DOI - 10.1002/smi.1322
Subject(s) - psychosocial , prison , psychology , occupational safety and health , occupational stress , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , criminology , pathology
Research has lately increased its focus on work conditions as predictors of stress among prison workers but only few studies have focused on how the exposure of workers to psychosocial risks vary according to their occupational groups and their contact with inmates. Work psychosocial risks (demands, control and social support) were assessed using the Spanish version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire among 164 Spanish prison workers (43 per cent of those surveyed). Regression analysis was used to explore how psychosocial hazards and their combinations (outcome variables) vary according to occupational groups. Results suggest that psychosocial risks were highest among guards that have more contact with inmates. Implications of the findings for policy making and practice application are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.