J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2017 Feb;56(1):20-27. 10.4306/jknpa.2017.56.1.20.

Mental Health Status of Correctional Officers in Correctional Institutions

• Kim KH
• Park JI
• Lee SJ
• Jang KH

• KMID: 2379375
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2017.56.1.20

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to measure the current mental health status of correctional officers by using various assessment instruments. The results of the study could help establish appropriate mental health-related solutions and policies for the officers.
METHODS
The study enrolled 2571 correctional officers from 50 correctional facilities in South Korea in 2011. They were asked to answer or rate their occupational experiences within various investigative inventories and scales including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS), the Job Satisfaction Scale by Davison and Cooper, the Korean version of the Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI), and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RSE).
RESULTS
Based on MBI results, the burnout score of the correctional officers was higher than that of the other occupations. Using the KOSS data, the average occupational stress of the correctional officer was higher than that of the other occupations. The officers' average job satisfaction score was lower than that of the other occupations. The average depression level of the correctional officers derived from K-BDI data was 9.36. The average RSE score of correctional officers was lower than that for the other occupations.
CONCLUSION
This research revealed that the mental health status of correctional officers is poorer than that for other occupations. This finding emphasizes the need for a system to regularly assess the mental health status of correctional officers and to find solutions that can improve their mental health status.

Keyword

Correctional institution; Correctional officers; Mental health

MeSH Terms

Depression
Equipment and Supplies
Job Satisfaction
Korea
Mental Health*
Occupations
Weights and Measures

Reference

1. Stansfeld S, Candy B. Psychosocial work environment and mental health--a meta-analytic review. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2006; 32:443–462.

2. Babazono A, Mino Y, Nagano J, Tsuda T, Araki T. A prospective study on the influences of workplace stress on mental health. J Occup Health. 2005; 47:490–495.

3. Kitaoka-Higashiguchi K, Nakagawa H, Morikawa Y, Ishizaki M, Miura K, Naruse Y, et al. The association between job demand, control and depression in workplaces in Japan. J Occup Health. 2002; 44:427–428.

4. Kim MH. Teacher stress and burnout. Seoul: Yonsei University;1991.

5. Park JH. Comparision of exhaustion level due to job stress between police officer and civil officer [dissertation]. Suwon: Kyunggi University;2005.

6. Jo SD. The relationship between job stress and alcohol-use disorders among firemen [dissertation]. Suwon: Ajou University;2010.

7. Park MW, Cho KY, Baek CH. A study on the influence of job stress and post-traumatic stress on depressive symptoms of social welfare officials. J Korean Soc Welf Adm. 2013; 15:1–29.

8. Lim HH. Job stress and depression of male industry workers [dissertation]. Suwon: Ajou University;2007.

9. Sin SW. Effect of psychological burnout on job satisfaction and turnover intention among police officers. J Korea Contents Assoc. 2010; 10:337–343.

10. Lee HS. Effect of the ocupational stress and self esteem on mental health among nurses. J Korea Contents Assoc. 2013; 3:251–259.

11. Finney C, Stergiopoulos E, Hensel J, Bonato S, Dewa CS. Organizational stressors associated with job stress and burnout in correctional officers: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2013; 13:82.

12. Bourbonnais R, Jauvin N, Dussault J, Vézina M. Psychosocial work environment, interpersonal violence at work and mental health among correctional officers. Int J Law Psychiatry. 2007; 30:355–368.

13. Ghaddar A, Mateo I, Sanchez P. Occupational stress and mental health among correctional officers: a cross-sectional study. J Occup Health. 2008; 50:92–98.

14. Lee SJ, Yoon OK. Burnout and post traumatic stress disorder caused by inmates' violence against correctional officers. Correct Rev. 2004; 25:7–34.

15. Lee SJ, Koo HA, Hong YO. Victimization of inmates violence against correctional officers as a cause of their stress-related mental health problems. Korean J Ind Organ Psychol. 2005; 18:317–335.

16. Schaufeli WB, Peeters MCW. Job Stress and burnout among correctional officers: a literature review. Int J Stress Manag. 2000; 7:19–48.

17. Yoon OK. The correctional officer's stress: its causes and reduction strategies. Korean Assoc Public Saf Crim Justice Rev. 2006; 25:81–108.

18. Lee MS. The effects of correctional officers' victimization on job satisfaction and turnover intention. Korean Criminol Rev. 2006; 67:99–138.

19. Sin SW. The comparison of the violence experience, psychological burnout, occupational satisfaction between police and correctional officers. J Korean Pub Police Secur Stud. 2009; 6:105–124.

20. Goldberg P, David S, Landre MF, Goldberg M, Dassa S, Fuhrer R. Work conditions and mental health among prison staff in France. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1996; 22:45–54.

21. Maslach C, Jackson SE. The measurement of experienced burnout. J Organ Behav. 1981; 2:99–113.

22. Kim JH. The relationship between teachers' job stresses and psychosomatic symptoms, burnout. Chuncheon Teachers College. 1993; 33:3–61.

23. Chang SJ, Koh SB, Kang DM, Kim SA, Kang MG, Lee CG, et al. Developing an occupational stress scale for Korean employees. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2005; 17:297–317.

24. Jung DH. Study of correctional welfare service worker's job stress and job burnout impacting on job attitudes: focused on correctional officers [dissertation]. Seoul: Sungkyunkwan University;2010.

25. Cooper C, Davidson M. The high cost of stress on women managers. Organ Dyn. 1982; 10:44–53.

26. Kim JI. Effects of negative affectivity and social support on job stress and its outcomes. Seoul: Chung-Ang University;1997.

27. Beck AT. Depression: clinical, experimental, and theoretical aspects. New York: Harper & Row;1967.

28. Lee YH, Song JY. A study of the reliability and the validity of the BDI, SDS, and MMPI-D scales. Korean J Clin Psychol. 1991; 10:90–113.

29. Shin MS, Kim ZS, Park KB. The cut-off score for the Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory. Korean J Clin Psychol. 1993; 12:71–81.

30. Rosenberg M. Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton: Princeton University Press;1965.

31. Jon BJ. Self-esteem: a test of its measurability. Yonsei Nonchong. 1974; 11:109–129.

32. Park JI, Kim YJ, Lee SJ. Mental health status of prisoners in correctional institutions. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc. 2013; 52:454–462.