[Organizational stressors, exposure to critical incidents and organizational well-being among correctional officers]

Objective: The present study examined the predictors of burnout and psychological well-being in Italian correctional officers. Methods: The subjects were 188 correctional officers (138 men and 33 women) employed in four penitentiaries located in Piemonte (region in northwestern Italy). Participants completed a variety of questionnaire measures of burnout, psychological well-being (General Health Questionnaire), organizational stressors and exposure to critical incidents. Results: Results showed that neither demographic variables (age and gender) nor the degree of inmates contact and length of service were related with burnout and psychological well-being. Emotional exhaustion was related with exposure to emotionally stressful situations (r =. 23), having unjust reproaches (r =. 19), unsupportive and punitive supervisors (r =. 23), work-to-family conflict (r =. 25), overtime work (r =. 18), and exposure to insults (r =. 18), threats (r =. 18) and episodes of self-damaging behaviors of inmates (r =. 14). Depersonalization was related with staffing adequacy (r =. 17) and inmates' threats (r =. 16). Personal accomplishment was related with work load (r =. 18) and risk of being attacked (r =. 18). Psychological well-being was related with unsupportive supervisors (r =. 23), work-to-family conflict (r =. 19), and inmates' threats (r =. 13) and self-damaging behaviors (r =. 13). Conclusions: Organizational well-being depends on organizational stressors as well as exposure to critical incidents. © PI-ME, Pavia 2011.