Defining Impact of Stress and Traumatic Events on Corrections Officers, Oregon, 2018-2020 (ICPSR 38442)

Version Date: Jun 13, 2024

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Principal Investigator(s):
Kerry Kuehl, Oregon Health & Science University

https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR38442.v1

Version V1

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Summary

Correctional officers (CO's) have high stress levels affecting their well-being and work performance. The longer-term adverse consequences of stress have been well documented. However, the immediate impacts of stress on CO's neurocognitive function have not been assessed (or among other law enforcement groups). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can measure ability to attend to relevant information when making decisions, especially when the context is emotionally charged. This study will use technology to understand the impact of CO's stress on their neurocognitive and physiological function.

The study builds on research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-funded Oregon Healthy Workforce Center that established an index of chronic stress among more than 1330 Oregon CO's. Researchers will perform a prospective 18-month observational study among CO's from two facilities (n=400) to relate their stress levels to work characteristics, work performance and economic costs. Researchers will identify a sub-cohort of higher/lower stress CO's (total n=60) and compare their fMRI findings; researchers will measure their biomarkers to develop predictive indices of fMRI findings and chronic stress levels. The overarching goal is to understand and effectively reduce chronic stress among corrections officers (COs).

The study attempts to ask the following questions:

  1. How did stress levels among COs relate to work contributors of stress and work performance?
  2. What were the relationships between fMRI, biomarker tests and stress in higher and lower stress sub-cohorts?

Citation

Kuehl, Kerry. Defining Impact of Stress and Traumatic Events on Corrections Officers, Oregon, 2018-2020. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2024-06-13. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR38442.v1

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Funding

United States Department of Justice. Office of Justice Programs. National Institute of Justice (2017-R2-CX-0036)

Subject Terms

Geographic Coverage

Smallest Geographic Unit

None

Restrictions

Access to these data is restricted. Users interested in obtaining these data must complete a Restricted Data Use Agreement, specify the reasons for the request, and obtain IRB approval or notice of exemption for their research.

Distributor(s)

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research
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Time Period(s)

2018 -- 2020

Date of Collection

2018-09-24 -- 2019-04-14 (Baseline Survey), 2020-08-06 -- 2020-11-16 (Follow-up Survey)
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Study Purpose

The overarching goal was to understand and effectively reduce chronic stress among corrections officers (COs). To accomplish this goal, this study had two inter-related objectives:

Objective 1: Perform a prospective 18-month observational study of approximately 400 CO's to relate their stress levels to a) correctional work-related contributors to stress and b) impacts of stress on work performance and economic costs. Researchers also used the initial cross-sectional stress levels to identify a higher (n=30) and lower stress (n=30) sub-cohort for objective 2.

Objective 2: Researchers evaluated a higher (n=30) and lower (n=30) stress sub-cohort for an extensive assessment including event-related fMRI and biomarkers of hormonal dysregulation and cardiometabolic risk. Researchers a) identified alterations in neurocognitive processes affected by stress and b) assessed the ability of a stress index, comprised of easily accessible clinical biomarkers, to identify CO's with higher stress levels and reduced activation of neurocognitive brain regions via fMRI.

Study Design

All corrections staff were eligible to participate in the baseline survey if they worked directly with adults in custody (AIC's) for at least one month. If a participant was no longer working for the Oregon Department of Corrections at one of the six participating facilities they were no longer eligible to participate in the follow-up survey.

Both baseline and follow-up surveys included information on demographics, work history, perceived stress, and occupational constructs. Baseline self-report surveys were conducted with pen and paper, administered and collected on-site at each participating correctional facility during day, swing, and night shifts over several days. Researchers toured the facility and delivered surveys directly at each post for those who were interested in participating. Site liaisons and staff coverage allowed staff to complete surveys during their work shift. These paper surveys were scanned and cleaned by researchers using Tele Form software system. Written informed consent was obtained prior to participation.

Those who participated in the baseline survey were invited to participant in the follow-up survey using their Oregon Department of Corrections e-mail from August to November 2020. Online follow-up surveys included similar demographic, work history, stress, and occupational construct variables as the baseline survey. This follow-up survey also included questions regarding exposure and associates life effects due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Sample

This study was a cross-sectional survey assessment of Oregon corrections professionals working directly with adults in custody (AIC's). Participants were recruited from six Oregon Department of Corrections facilities within 50 miles of Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. All corrections staff were eligible to participate in the baseline survey if they worked directly with AIC's for at least one month. If a participant was no longer working for the Oregon Department of Corrections at one of the six participating facilities they were no longer eligible to participate in the follow-up survey. Participants responded to surveys which concurrently addressed various work and stress related questions regarding their overall opinions or experiences within the past month.

Time Method

Longitudinal: Cohort / Event-based, Cross-sectional

Universe

Corrections professionals working directly with adults in custody (AIC's) from six Oregon Department of Corrections facilities within 50 miles of Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon.

Unit(s) of Observation

Individual

Data Type(s)

Mode of Data Collection

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Original Release Date

2024-06-13

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Notes

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