Shift Work and Correctional Officers: Effects and Strategies for Adjustment

Swenson, David X.; Waseleski, Daniel; Hartl, Robert

doi:10.1177/1078345808322585

Cited by 47 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Several studies have shown that work-related stress, anxiety, and frustration are high among correctional officers. Factors contributing to these issues include shift work, job dissatisfaction, closed work environment, and the pressure of dealing with incarcerated criminals (Swenson et al, 2008;Hessl, 2001;Cullen, Link, Cullen, & Wolfe, 1989;Morse, Dussetschleger, Warren, & Cherniack, 2011). In the present study, the number of suicides primarily represents those occurring in the workplace.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent years, increasing job demands have been placed on correctional officers due to a rapidly increasing prison population, staffing shortages, and a high turnover rate (Hessl, 2001;Swenson, Waseleski, & Hartl, 2008). From 2000 to 2005, the number of inmates in state and federal facilities rose by 10%, while the number of correctional employees rose by only 3% (Bureau of Justice Statistics [BJS], 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Occupational Injuries among U.S. Correctional Officers, 1999-2008

Konda

Reichard

Tiesman

2012

Journal of Safety Research

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Objective-This study describes fatal and nonfatal occupational injuries among U.S. correctional officers.Methods-Fatal injuries were obtained from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries; nonfatal injuries were identified from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Occupational Supplement. [1999][2000][2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008], there were 113 fatalities and an estimated 125,200 (CI=±70,100) nonfatal injuries were treated in emergency departments. Assaults and violent acts (n = 45, 40%) and transportation related fatalities (n = 45, 40%) were the two primary fatal injury events. Assaults and violent acts (n = 47,500 (CI = ±24,500), 38%) and bodily reaction and exertion (n = 25,400 (CI = ± 16,800), 20%) were the leading events resulting in nonfatal injuries. Results-FromConclusions-While workplace violence is the primary cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among correctional officers, transportation events and bodily reactions are also leading causes of occupational injury. Future research is needed to identify risk factors unique to these events and develop appropriate prevention and intervention efforts.Impact on Industry-This study adds to the literature on occupational injuries among correctional officers and provides a national level description of fatal and nonfatal injuries across a 10-year period. Given that assaults and violent acts, transportation events, and bodily reaction and exertion were significant injury events, future research should describe detailed injury circumstances and risk factors for correctional officers unique to these events. This would allow appropriate prevention and control efforts to be developed to reduce injuries from these events.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational Injuries among U.S. Correctional Officers, 1999-2008

Konda

Reichard

Tiesman

2012

Journal of Safety Research

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“…34 According to Swensen et al (2012), the negative health implications of these work schedule factors may impact cognitive, emotional, and physical function. 35 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations Among Work and Family Health Climate, Health Behaviors, Work Schedule, and Body Weight

Buden

Dugan

Faghri³

et al. 2017

Journal of Occupational &Amp; Environmental Medicine

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Objectives Correctional employees exhibit elevated obesity rates. This study examines interrelations among health behaviors, health climate, BMI, and work schedule. Methods Using survey results from correctional supervisors (n=157), mediation and moderated-mediation analyses were performed to examine how health behaviors explain relationships between obesity, work health climate (WHC) and family health climate (FHC), and work schedule. Results Over 85% of the sample was overweight/obese (mean BMI=30.20). Higher WHC and FHC were associated with lower BMI, mediated by nutrition and physical activity. The interaction effect between health behavior and work schedule revealed a protective effect on BMI. Overtime shiftwork may share a relationship with BMI. Conclusions Findings may have implications for reexamining organizational policies on maximum weekly overtime in corrections. They provide direction for targeted obesity interventions that encourage a supportive FHC and promote healthy behaviors among supervisors working overtime.

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“…Participants who had the lowest knowledge, confidence, and/or behaviors about healthy diet and physical activity showed the most success at losing weight across the intervention. This pilot study and previous research [2,3] support that interventions which address the unique workplace demands and facilitate participation increase potential for intervention success, and maintaining healthy behaviors in the future.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Correctional institutions are high-stress workplaces due to hierarchal organization, rotating work shifts, irregular meal schedules, and risks to personal safety during violent emergencies [2][3][4]. Much of the research on the health of workers in hazardous duty services (e.g., police officers, civil servants, and correctional officers) has identified a relationship between the work environment and stress [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Worksite Weight Loss Intervention for Employees in Stressful Workplaces: A Pilot Study and Baseline Survey Indicators of Success

Faghri¹,

Duffy²,

Benson³

et al. 2012

J Obes Weig los Ther

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Statement of problem: Correctional facilities are stressful, unhealthy and dangerous working environments, which increase the risk of chronic diseases and a shortened lifespan for employees, particularly corrections officers. The need exists for effective worksite interventions to lower chronic disease risk and improve health of correctional employees.Objective: The primary aim was to pilot test eight-week worksite nutrition and physical activity educational intervention for correctional employees and to determine baseline indicators of weight loss success. Methods:Twenty overweight/obese volunteer employees were recruited by convenience sampling. Educational material was tailored to baseline responses on diet and physical activity knowledge, preferences, and behaviors. Adiposity status was both self-rated by the study participants and measured by researchers. The primary indicator was change in adiposity with a goal of 3% loss in weight across the intervention. Results:The group averaged one-pound loss per week; eleven of 20 employees lost ≥3% of body weight. The number of overweight/obese employees with healthy waist circumferences increased from 3 to 8 post-intervention. At baseline, employees who reached the weight loss goal were most likely to: accurately assess their level of adiposity; have lower knowledge about nutrition and healthy eating; report greater preference for discretionary-energy foods but less preference for vegetables; and less confidence in changing their physical activity behaviors. Conclusions:The intervention resulted in clinically meaningful, short-term weight loss among employees in stressful workplaces. Simple baseline survey-assessment defined employees who reported room to change their dietary and physical activity patterns as well as an accurate realization of their level of excessive adiposity.

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Shift Work and Correctional Officers: Effects and Strategies for Adjustment

Cited by 47 publications

References 36 publications

Occupational Injuries among U.S. Correctional Officers, 1999-2008

Occupational Injuries among U.S. Correctional Officers, 1999-2008

Associations Among Work and Family Health Climate, Health Behaviors, Work Schedule, and Body Weight

Worksite Weight Loss Intervention for Employees in Stressful Workplaces: A Pilot Study and Baseline Survey Indicators of Success

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