TY - JOUR
T1 - Personality traits of the Five-Factor Model are associated with work-related stress in special force police officers.
AU - Magnavita, Nicola
AU - Garbarino, S.
AU - Chiorri, C.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Purpose. The police work is particularly stressful. The aim of this work was to clarify
whether the personality factors are associated with perceived stress levels or reactivity
to environmental stressors in a special body of police.
Methods. The police officers in charge of guaranteeing public order at the L'Aquila G8
meeting were subjected to a control of their levels of work-related stress in anticipation
of the event. Personality was assessed by the Italian version of the Five Factor Model
questionnaire, while stress was measured three times (during routine work in January
2009, preparation and imminence of the event, in April and July 2009, respectively)
with the demand-control-support model of Karasek and the effort-reward-imbalance
model of Siegrist. 289 of 294 officers took part in the survey.
Results. Some personality traits of the Five-Factor Model were associated with stress
levels and stress reactivity. Neuroticism (low emotional stability) showed the strongest
associations with job strain (Demand/Control ratio) (β=0.115, p<0.05) and Effort
Reward Imbalance (β= 0.270, p<0.001), and was associated with most of the stress
variables. High agreeableness was associated with low effort-reward imbalance (β= -
0.157, p<0.01).
Conclusions. Personality factors may mitigate or increase the strain induced by
environmental stressors.
AB - Purpose. The police work is particularly stressful. The aim of this work was to clarify
whether the personality factors are associated with perceived stress levels or reactivity
to environmental stressors in a special body of police.
Methods. The police officers in charge of guaranteeing public order at the L'Aquila G8
meeting were subjected to a control of their levels of work-related stress in anticipation
of the event. Personality was assessed by the Italian version of the Five Factor Model
questionnaire, while stress was measured three times (during routine work in January
2009, preparation and imminence of the event, in April and July 2009, respectively)
with the demand-control-support model of Karasek and the effort-reward-imbalance
model of Siegrist. 289 of 294 officers took part in the survey.
Results. Some personality traits of the Five-Factor Model were associated with stress
levels and stress reactivity. Neuroticism (low emotional stability) showed the strongest
associations with job strain (Demand/Control ratio) (β=0.115, p<0.05) and Effort
Reward Imbalance (β= 0.270, p<0.001), and was associated with most of the stress
variables. High agreeableness was associated with low effort-reward imbalance (β= -
0.157, p<0.01).
Conclusions. Personality factors may mitigate or increase the strain induced by
environmental stressors.
KW - Big Five personality factors, work-related stress, demand, control, job strain, effortreward imbalance.
KW - Big Five personality factors, work-related stress, demand, control, job strain, effortreward imbalance.
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/40633
U2 - DOI: 10.1007/s00420-013-0861-1
DO - DOI: 10.1007/s00420-013-0861-1
M3 - Article
VL - 2013
SP - N/A-N/A
JO - International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
JF - International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
SN - 0340-0131
ER -