Gender and stress: A comparative assessment of sources of stress among correctional officers

Studies have described the stressful and hazardous nature of working within the correctional environment as well as the way in which female officers encounter additional workplace pressures associated with their entry into a nontraditional occupation. This study advances the literature on gender and stress by examining the gendered influence of multiple environmental variables on the job stress of correctional officers. Contrary to expectations, there were few differences between male and female officers in the effects of workplace stressors on their level of job stress. Work-family conflict proved to have the greatest impact on stress for both male and female officers, whereas concerns regarding organizational support for equal treatment policies affected stress only among male officers.