Ronald J. Burke, Astrid M. Richardsen and Monica Martinussen
This exploratory study compared job demands, work attitudes and outcomes, social resources and indicators of burnout and psychological health of male and female police officers in…
Abstract
Purpose
This exploratory study compared job demands, work attitudes and outcomes, social resources and indicators of burnout and psychological health of male and female police officers in Norway.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 173 male and 48 female police officers using anonymous questionnaires.
Findings
Many demographic differences were present in that male officers were older, had longer organizational and job tenure, worked more hours and overtime hours, were more likely to work full‐time, worked in smaller units and were at higher organizational levels. Few differences were found on job demands but male officers experienced more autonomy.
Research limitations/implications
The two groups were generally similar on work attitudes, work and career satisfactions, social resources and psychological health. Female police officers did indicate more psychosomatic symptoms, however. While other studies have reported gender differences, few appeared here.
Originality/value
This research indicates that police forces can create a work environment where males and females are treated similarly.
Charlotte Reedtz, Monica Martinussen, Fredrik Wang Jørgensen, Bjørn Helge Handegård and Willy‐Tore Mørch
The main aim of this study is to explore characteristics of parents who signed up for parenting classes offered to the universal population and their reasons for participation.
Abstract
Purpose
The main aim of this study is to explore characteristics of parents who signed up for parenting classes offered to the universal population and their reasons for participation.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were obtained from parents in a study on parent training for children aged two to eight years (n=189), and a follow up survey on these parents (n=118).
Findings
Parents had high education, were married, and employed in full time jobs. The mean age of the children was under four years, and their Intensity and Problem scores on ECBI were higher than the Norwegian mean scores for their age group. Parent stress, parental concern, and parenting practices predicted the ECBI Intensity scores to a rather large extent.
Practical implications
Parents with high SES risk factors may not come forward to participate in face‐to‐face mental health promotion interventions even if the parenting intervention is offered in a non‐stigmatising way.
Originality/value
By offering a universal health promoting and preventive parent training service in the community, a large proportion of children with behaviour problems were identified and referred to treatment. This demonstrates how parent training services, offered to the universal population, may contribute to increase the reach for the youngest children in need of treatment.
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Omar Durrah and Monica Chaudhary
This study examines the effect of three negative behaviors namely alienation behavior, cynicism behavior and silence behavior on employees’ intention to leave work in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the effect of three negative behaviors namely alienation behavior, cynicism behavior and silence behavior on employees’ intention to leave work in the telecommunication sector in the Sultanate of Oman.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a simple random sampling technique, data was collected using a questionnaire from 204 employees working in two leading telecommunication service providing agencies (Omantel and Ooredoo) in Oman. The collected data was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) through AMOS software.
Findings
The findings of the study indicate a significant effect of both cynicism behavior and work alienation behavior on employees’ intention to leave work while silence behavior did not appear to affect employees’ intention to leave work.
Practical implications
The research suggests that the policymakers are required to take corrective measures and implement policies and work practices that ensure employees’ sincere engagement to work.
Originality/value
The findings contribute to the knowledge regarding the effect of employees’ negative behavior on the intention to leave work. The work is novel in the context of studying the effect in the Sultanate of Oman.
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Alba Barbarà-i-Molinero, Cristina Sancha and Rosalia Cascón-Pereira
The purpose of this paper is to analyse and compare the level of professional identity strength between healthcare and social sciences students.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse and compare the level of professional identity strength between healthcare and social sciences students.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a sample of 339 students, the authors conduct an ANOVA analysis in order to compare students’ professional identity strength across the abovementioned groups.
Findings
The authors’ results show that there are significant differences in professional identity strength between healthcare and social sciences students. In particular, healthcare sciences students show stronger professional identity than social sciences students.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the existing literature on professional identity in higher education by being the first study comparing student’s professional identity between bachelor degrees from different professional fields of study and by showing the relevance of discipline as a contextual variable in the study of students’ professional identity.
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Prior research established several important influences on the representation of women in policing, using a variety of secondary and primary data. The purpose of this paper is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Prior research established several important influences on the representation of women in policing, using a variety of secondary and primary data. The purpose of this paper is to examine how experimental manipulation of online recruitment materials impacts potential applicants.
Design/methodology/approach
The study relied on a census of 11 criminal justice courses taught at a public university, asking students to respond to an experimental vignette instrument (n=174). The 3×2 experimental vignette involved manipulation of two variables: the identification of recruits with diversity language (“individuals,” “women and men” or “a diverse group of individuals”) and mention or absence of discussion of physical fitness requirements.
Findings
Results largely run counter to prior research concerning women in policing, with women actually indicating increased probability of providing their contact information when encountering vignettes with physical fitness requirements.
Originality/value
This study demonstrates that small manipulations of recruitment content can have significant and gendered impact on potential applicants. This paper provides a foundation for empirical study of how changes in online recruitment materials impact a variety of relevant outcomes relating to applicant behaviors.
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Joaquim Jorge Fernandes Soares, Eija Viitasara, Gloria Macassa, Maria Gabriella Melchiorre, Mindaugas Stankunas, Jutta Lindert, Henrique Barros, Elisabeth Ioannidi-Kapolou and Francisco Torres-González
The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in the experience of somatic symptoms by domain (exhaustion, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, heart distress) between…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in the experience of somatic symptoms by domain (exhaustion, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, heart distress) between psychologically abused and non-abused older persons, and to scrutinize associations between abuse and somatic symptoms while considering other factors (e.g. social support).
Design/methodology/approach
The design was cross-sectional. The participants were 4,467 women/men aged 60-84 years living in seven European cities. The data were analysed using bivariate/multivariate methods.
Findings
Psychologically abused participants scored higher on all somatic symptom domains than non-abused, and thus were more affected by the symptoms. The regressions confirmed a positive association between psychological abuse and most somatic symptom domains, but other factors (e.g. depression, anxiety) were more salient. Demographics/socio-economics were positively (e.g. marriage/cohabitation) or negatively (e.g. education) associated with somatic symptoms depending on the domain. Social support and family structure “protected” the experience of somatic symptoms.
Research limitations/implications
The research focused on psychological abuse. It did not incorporate other abuse types calling for further research on the effects of other abuse types on somatic symptoms. Nevertheless, the findings indicate that psychological abuse is linked to somatic symptoms, but the role of other factors (e.g. depression, anxiety, social support) is also important.
Practical implications
Improvements in the older person's situation regarding somatic symptoms need to consider psychological abuse, co-morbidities, social support and living conditions.
Originality/value
The paper reports data from the ABUEL Survey, which collected population-based data on elder abuse.
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Stergios A. Seretis and Persefoni V. Tsaliki
The purpose of this paper is to expand and further pursue the quest on value transfer in trade. The reason is that the assessment of the cause, the source and the mechanism of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to expand and further pursue the quest on value transfer in trade. The reason is that the assessment of the cause, the source and the mechanism of value transfer in trade may reveal the rationale upon which the observed and long‐lasting differences in sectoral, regional, and national development records may be justified.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors' analysis relies on the concept of free competition as developed by the classical economic tradition and particularly on the notions of regulating capital and dominant technique, whose interface forms the theoretical ground upon which can be confirmed the transfer of values between and within industries and by extension between and within regions and economies.
Findings
It is revealed that the cause of value transfers is capital competition, their source is differential productivity whereas the mechanism for these value transfers is national and international trade.
Practical implications
The analysis provides a theoretical ground upon which a new development policy may be designed which will pay attention to value transfers among sectors, regions and economies.
Originality/value
The paper argues that transfers of value are consummated from the less efficient sectors/economies characterized mostly by low technological achievements to more efficient ones.
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Jessica C.M. Li, Jacky C.K. Cheung and Ivan Y. Sun
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of demands from three life domains: society, workplace and family and different resources at the individual, family and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of demands from three life domains: society, workplace and family and different resources at the individual, family and supervisor levels on occupational stress and work engagement among Hong Kong police officers.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey based on a random sample of 514 male and female police officers was conducted, and multivariate regression was employed to assess the effects of demands and resources on work stress and work engagement.
Findings
Family–work conflicts, organizational and operational factors affected work stress and work engagement among police officers. Constructive coping was found to be positively related to work stress and negatively associated with work engagement.
Research limitations/implications
Survey data collected from a single Chinese city may not be generalized to officers in other parts of China or Chinese societies with different social and political contexts.
Originality/value
The present study filled the knowledge gap about factors influencing police stress and engagement. This study provides insights into how to establish relevant contextual measures to reduce police work stress. This study represents one of the first attempts to use a random sample of police officers for the investigation of police stress in Hong Kong.
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Petter Gottschalk, Stefan Holgersson and Jan Terje Karlsen
The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize detectives in police investigations as knowledge workers.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize detectives in police investigations as knowledge workers.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on a literature review covering knowledge organizations, police organizations, police investigations, and detectives as knowledge workers.
Findings
The paper finds that the changing role of the detective as a resource influences investigation performance in solving complex and organized crime.
Research limitations/implications
This exploratory research provides no final conclusions.
Practical implications
Leadership in police investigations needs to focus on knowledge management among detectives rather than information collection in each criminal case.
Originality/value
Until this paper, the secretive nature of the detective world has been unexplored by manpower researchers.