Roll call and the second shift: the influences of gender and family on police stress

Public perception and social research establishes policing as one of the most stressful professions in Western society. This research explores the influences of gender and family factors on police stress using data from the Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997-99. Findings indicate that women police officers generally experience higher levels of stress, but specific work related events do not vary significantly between men and women. Parental and marital status exert a strong influence on the stress levels of women in law enforcement but have little to no effect on men in this sample. Findings support the conclusion that the 'second shift' remains as a source of stress for women officers and a potential hurdle to recruitment and retention of women.