What Does Education Have to Do with It? A Study of Correctional Officer Stress

Abstract

Prior research has found mixed results when exploring the relationship between correctional officer stress and their education level. The purpose of this study is to see whether there is a relationship between education level and correctional officer stress. Participants in this study consisted of 228 correctional officers from four correctional institutions within the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. The first of two hypotheses to be studied is that the higher the education level of correctional officers, the less stress they experience in the workplace compared to their less-educated counterparts. Secondly, correctional officers with higher education levels will also be able to cope more effectively should they experience such stress. These survey results could provide the impetus for meaningful stress management and educational programs for officers and cost savings for administrators. However, the findings in this study did not support the hypotheses. Education level did not affect the stress levels of officers, nor did it affect their ability to cope more effectively with such stress.