Criminology Research Council grant ; (38(I)/76)
A 187 page report Multi-Faceted Aspects of Stress in the Police Forces was prepared by Ms Marilyn J. Davidson and Dr Arthur Veno of the Psychology Department, University of Queensland. Honorary consultants to the project were Professor David Ferguson, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, University of Sydney, and Dr Don Byrne, Social Psychiatry Unit, Australian National University.
As indicated by the title of the report, both the literature review and research proposal are based on the assumption that there is not a single dimension of cause or manifestation of stress. The authors emphasise that: '. ..stress, health, job performance, family networks, and friendship networks, form an integrated whole for any individual. Thus the stress from one area can affect the individual which in turn may affect changes in the amount of stress in relationships in other areas. With regard to police, the job is posited as a high stress factor itself.' The research proposal envisages that measures be taken of physical health, personality, and job performance. A modified version of an American questionnaire is also proposed for use.
Copies of the report have been forwarded to all Commissioners of Police in Australia, but no decision has yet been made on whether or not the research will be undertaken.