M. Tech. Policing / Struggling with stress, anxiety and/or depression can adversely affect work performance. This study aimed to determine how levels of Emotional Intelligence were related to levels of overall stress, anxiety or depression.

The present study evaluated the effect of the Continuous Stress Intervention Programme (CSIP) on trauma symptoms and coping strategies. The programme was implemented with a group of police officers from a specialised unit who daily experience extremely difficult and at times traumatic work conditions. Data was gathered before and after the implementation of the CSIP. A quasi - experimental design approach was adopted with a control group who had no intervention and an intervention- experimental group, who participated in the programme. Data was gathered from questionnaires with instruments that measured trauma symptomatology and coping strategies, both in the pre- and post -intervention periods. The control group consisted of eight police officers, while the experimental group consisted of 24 police officers. Data was analysed using a frequency count of scores, and a mixed between-within analysis of variance, using the SPSS (Version 11) statistical computer package. The results of the study showed that the Continuous Stress Intervention programme did not have a significant effect between the experimental and control groups, on trauma symptoms, but the trauma symptoms of the experimental group decreased from the pre- assessment to the post -assessment at a greater rate. In addition, in terms of the coping responses, the results of the study were significant for only one of the sub - scales, between the experimental and control groups, while there was an increase in positive coping strategies for the experimental group. The results were discussed in terms of epidemiological studies conducted previously in the area of trauma research. Recommendations were made pertaining to the inclusion of support mechanisms for the spouses of police officers, as well as the inclusion of coping strategies to deal with specific organisational problems within the programme. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

M.Cur. (Curriculum Studies) / The aim of this study is to determine whether training in stress management through primary mental health education has a positive effect on the learning of effective stress management techniques. This study was carried out on a group of police officers. In an experimental investigation the following method of stress management was used, namely a primary mental health education programme. An at-risk population in the society was identified namely the South African Police Force, and sixty four people from the target population of one hundred and twenty eight candicate-officers 'were selected for this study. A survey of the target population was done and these sampling units met the following criteria: they were all white warrant officers in training in the South.African Police Force from the same level of training, who had all obtained a national diploma in police administration. These members were representatives from throughout South-Africa making it a national study. Their ages ranged from twenty to fifty years of age....

Occupational stress, intrinsic motivation and job engagement are areas of importance for today’s management. The main objective of this study was to explore the combined effect of occupational stress and intrinsic motivation in determining job engagement in the South African Police Service. Moreover, the study investigated the relationship between occupational stress, intrinsic motivation and job engagement. The study also sought to enquire into the effects rank and gender has on the study variables. A quantitative approach was adopted. A structured self – administered questionnaire comprising of four sections: biographical information, police stress questionnaire, intrinsic motivation inventory and job engagement scale was used to collect data. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data, and both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized. The results revealed a negative relationship between occupational stress and job engagement. A positive relationship between intrinsic motivation and job engagement was also found. There was no combined effect of occupational stress and intrinsic motivation on job engagement. Lastly, no significant differences in the way police experience stress were found among rank and gender. The researcher concluded that even when police officers are under great amounts of stress they are still engaged in their jobs. Where levels of intrinsic motivation were high for the police officers, so were the levels of job engagement. Demographic variables did not yield any significant relationships to the study variables. These findings are of significance in creating a police force which is productive and meets the goals and objectives of the South African Police Service.

M. Tech.Labour Relations / The South African Police Service (SAPS) will not be able to function if Constables fail to perform their duties efficiently and effectively. Constables are the face and hands of the SAPS at societal level, but face severe challenges and obstacles in their jobs. It is therefore critically important that they are satisfied in their employment relationships with their immediate supervisors. The researcher believes that many forms of undesirable organisational behaviour among Constables in the SAPS could be related to low levels of satisfaction in their employment relationships with their immediate supervisors. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the employment relationship satisfaction of a group of Constables in the SAPS: Tshwane region. The investigation will focus on levels of employment relationship satisfaction and the significance of differences in employment relationship satisfaction levels of constables with different biographical characteristics (e.g. race, age, gender, language, marital status, length of service, qualifications)

In South Africa the extraordinary high levels of violence and crime, escalating execution and killings of police officers, large number of murders, hijacking, robberies and shootings have created an unusually dangerous and stressful working environment for the members of the South African Police Services (SAPS). An overview of the literature on the nature of work in the SAPS indicates that these working conditions might have a detrimental effect on the coping resources and sense of coherence of police officers. This study aimed to explore and describe the coping resources and sense of coherence of male police officers in the SAPS. It employed a quantitative exploratory descriptive research design, making use of non-probability convenience sampling. The sample consisted of 70 male police officers who have been in the service of the SAPS for at least two years. All police officers that were included in the sample were also shift workers defined by the SAPS as police officers who work unsociable hours and who are likely to be exposed to violence, risks, danger, and traumatic situations. A further inclusion criterion was that the police officers must not be subjected to possible relocation or transfer as stipulated in Resolution 7/2002. The Coping Resources Inventory (CRI) was employed to identify the coping resources used by the participants and the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (SOC- 29) was utilised as a measure of the participants’ sense of coherence. A biographical questionnaire collated important demographic and background information. The data was analysed by computing descriptive statistics. To examine the relationship between the sense of coherence and coping resources of the participants, a multiple correlation xv between the total score of the SOC-29 and the subscales of the CRI was conducted. Following this, a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was utilised to intercorrelate the total score of the SOC-29 and the individual subscales of the CRI. The results of the present study indicated the followings: The SOC-29 revealed relatively low scores for the current sample. Results on the CRI revealed low average scores for both the total and all five scales. The correlational analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between the two measures for the current sample.

Thesis (MA) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The effects that a traumatic event can have on an individual and the high crime rate in South Africa (SA) were grounds for this two-phase study investigating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptom severity within the South African Police Service (SAPS). Two aims of the study were to investigate the relationship of six variables with the outcome variable (PTSD symptom severity) and to construct a regression model that could be used to predict levels ofPTSD symptom severity amongst SAPS members. A third aim was to construct a current list of duty-related stressors that SAPS members face. Phase one comprised 19 officers compiling a duty-related stress list that would form the basis of the stressor questionnaire in phase two. Phase two comprised 97 officers in 12 stations in the West Metropol completing a battery of questionnaires, including the PTSD Symptom Scale: Self-Report Version (Foa, Riggs, Dancu, & Rothbaum, 1993), the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (Folkman & Lazarus, 1988), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, & Farley, 1988), an extent of service experience questionnaire, and the duty-related stress list. The results from the regression model showed perceived social support to have significant beneficial effects on PTSD symptom severity as did emotion-focused coping. Problem-focused coping was found to exacerbate PTSD symptom severity. Regression model 1 and regression model 2 were found to not significantly predict the outcome variable and the model of best fit was suggested. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die uitwerking wat 'n traumatiese gebeurtenis op 'n individu kan he en die hoe misdaadsyfer in Suid-Afrika (SA) was die beweegredes agter 'n tweefasige studie na die ernstigheid van die simptome van posttraumatiese stresversteuring (PTSV) in die Suid- Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD). Die doel van die studie was om die verwantskap van ses veranderlikes met die uitkomsveranderlike te ondersoek en om 'n regressiemodel te skep wat gebruik kan word om die vlak van ernstigheid van PTSV-simptome by SAPD-Iede te voorspel. 'n Derde doel was om 'n bygewerkte lys van die werksverwante stressors wat SAPD-Iede in die gesig staar, saam te stel. In fase een het 19 polisiebeamptes 'n werksverwante streslys saamgestel wat as grondslag vir die stressorvraelys van fase twee gedien het. Fase twee het die voltooiing van 'n reeks vraelyste deur 97 beamptes van 12 stasies in die Wes-Metropool behels. Vraelyste het die volgende ingesluit: die PTSVsirnptoomskaal: self-aanmeldingsweergawe (Foa, Riggs, Daneu & Rothbaum, 1993), die maniere-van-hantering-vraelys (Folkman & Lazarus, 1998), die multidimensionele skaal van waargenome sosiale ondersteuning (Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet & Farley, 1998), 'n vraelys oor die mate van dienservaring, en die stresvraelys. Die uitslae van die regressiemodel het getoon dat waargenome sosiale ondersteuning, asook emosioneelgefokusde hantering, 'n betekenisvolle voordelige uitwerking op die ernstigheid van PTSV -sirnptome het. Daar is gevind dat probleemgefokusde hantering die ernstigheid van PTSV-simptome vererger. Regressiemodel 1 en die gewysigde regressiemodel 2 het nie die uitkomsveranderlike betekenisvol voorspel nie en die model wat die meeste van pas was, is aanbeveel.

M.Cur. / Die idee waarmee hierdie studie 'n aanvang geneem het, het ontstaan vanuit my waarneming dat al hoe meer polisiebeamptes opgeneem word in die psigiatriese kliniek waar ek, die navorser werksaam is. Hierdie polisiebeamptes vertel 'n storie van blootstelling aan talle traumatiese situasies in die beoefening van hul beroep, waar geweld, misdaad, lewensgevaar en die dood vir hulle bekende verskynsels is. Maar dit lei dikwels tot depressie, alkoholmisbruik en aggressie by die polisiebeamptes. Hierdie probleme word, volgens polisiebeampes, dikwels vererger deur 'n autokratiese bestuurstelsel in die SAPD, swak salarisse, 'n lae status in die gemeenskap en ontoereikende fasiliteite. Die winde van politieke verandering wat sedert 2 Februarie 1990 deur Suid-Afrika waai, verg van polisiebeamptes om sekere fundamentele aanpassings te maak en 'n nuwe benadering tot polisiering te volg. Hierdie aanpassings word dikwels as moeilik ervaar. Die gesinne van polisiebeamptes word dikwels direk geaffekteer deur al die genoemde faktore, in die sin dat, die polisiebeampte se manier van "dink en wees" as polisiebeampte, sy interaksie met sy gesin beInvloed. Ek het dus gewonder hoe die gesinne van polisiebeamptes dit beleef wanneer 'n lid van die gesin werksaam is as 'n polisiebeampte in 'n hoe-risiko metropolitaanse area in Gauteng. Geen studie is voorheen hieroor uitgevoer nie. Om hierdie vraag te beantwoord, het ek van 'n verkennende, beskrywende, kontekstuele en kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp gebruik gemaak in die uitvoering van hierdie studie. Semigestruktueerde, fenomenologiese onderhoude is gevoer met agt vroue van polisiebeamptes, werksaam by 'n geIdentifiseerde polisiestasie in Gauteng. Die vroue is volgens die sneeubalmetode geselekteer. Dit is gedoen nadat die nodige ingeligte toestemming van hulle verkry is. Stappe is deurgaans deur die studie geneem om vertrouenswaardigheid te verseker, volgens Guba se model. Daar is ook verseker dat hierdie studie op 'n etiese wyse uitgevoer is, deurdat ek myself laat lei het deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Verpleegstersvereniging se standaarde vir verpleegkundige navorsers. Die meta-teoretiese aannames wat hierdie studie rig, is verkry uit die Verplegingsteorie vir Mensheelheid, waarvolgens die mens 'n geestelike wese is wat op 'n gentegreerde, biopsigososiale wyse binne die gesin en gemeenskap funksioneer. Data is ontleed volgens die metodes van Tesch en die dienste van 'n onafhanklike kodeerder is verkry. Sodoende is ooreenstemming bereik oor die kategoriee en subkategoried van temas wat die storie van die vroue so akkuraat as moontlik sou kon beskryf. Die resultate het daarop gedui dat gebroke interaksie dikwels in die gesinne van polisiebeamptes vookom. Hierdie interaksie word gekenmerk deur oppervlakkige, konkrete kommunikasie, aggressie en fisiese, sowel as emosionele afwesigheid van die polisiebeampte in die gesin. Die vrou neem dikwels sekere rolle in die verhouding aan en ervaar emosies van pyn, alleenheid, woede, verwerping, vrees en onsekerheid. Riglyne is beskryf wat moontlik kan lei tot die ondersteuning van die gesinne van polisiebeamptes, deur die psigiatriese verpleegspesialis. Voorstelle vir die aanwending van die resultate in die verpleegonderwys, -praktyk en —navorsing is gemaak. Daar word tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die verkenning en beskrywing van die beleweniswereld van die gesinne van polisiebeamptes, die psigiatriese verpleegspesialis instaat kan stel om die gesinne te ondersteun in die mobilisering van hulpbronne en die gesin te fasiliteer in die bevordering, handhawing en herstel van gesinsgeestesgesondheid as 'n integrale deel van gesondheid.

MGS / Institute for Gender and Youth Studies

Suicide is a common phenomenon in all Police Agencies. Perceptions about police suicide, different Suicide Prevention Strategies and the Chaplain's role in preventing Police Suicide are researched. Data gathering employed two methods, namely:- A questionnaire to assess Perceptions of Personnel on Police Suicide and the Role of a Chaplain in the prevention thereof, and A case study to substantiate qualitative data. Information gathered through questionnaires was presented as percentages of personnel agreeing with statements. Results indicate that the following factors influence police perceptions on suicide:- Job characteristics, Lack of care and support, Low morale, Ineffective coping skills and Police culture. Recommendations are made on how Police Chaplains and SAPS Department can get involved in suicide prevention. This include Pastoral role fulfilment, in cooperation with the multidisciplinary effort by Employee Assistance Service (EAS). Recommendations are also made regarding future research on police suicide and chaplain's intervention. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)