Coping with work-related stress amongst junior police officers in Pretoria central police station: a qualitative approach

Aim Rikhotso; Tebogo Nganase; Dikeledi Moremi; Solly Matshonisa Seeletse

doi:10.36096/ijbes.v6i4.554

Authors

Aim Rikhotso Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5475-6784
Tebogo Nganase Department of Psychology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, 0204, Gauteng Province, South Africa.
Dikeledi Moremi Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences Department of Psychology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, 0204, Gauteng Province, South Africa.
Solly Matshonisa Seeletse Department of Statistical Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, 0204, Gauteng Province, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v6i4.554

Keywords:

Burnout, Copying strategies, Occupational stress, Stress, Trauma

Abstract

Police work is a high-stress occupation that exposes officers to violence, threats, and traumatic events daily. These experiences can cause significant personal distress and negatively impact performance. To cope with these stressful events, police officers employ various strategies. This study examined the coping strategies used by junior police officers at Pretoria's central police station, using Lazarus and Folkman's coping model. A qualitative, descriptive design was used to explore the experiences of nine junior officers through individual interviews. The results showed that junior officers primarily used emotional coping strategies rather than avoidance strategies. The identified coping mechanisms included religion, socialization, self-encouragement, motivation, work acceptance, and consultation with health professionals. The study recommends conducting longitudinal studies with larger samples across multiple police stations in Gauteng and among senior officers to further understand and support police officers' mental well-being.

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