WELLBEING
Why some security personnel cope better than others in a high stress work environment Background: work stress in the South African security industry has not been comprehensively researched or documented. This research piece, conducted as part of a doctorate degree in industrial psychology, includes findings from a self-developed coping questionnaire and an existing personality questionnaire with 381 security personnel, to explore commonly used coping techniques. By Dr Gerhard Schoeman, Industrial Psychologist.
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ecurity personnel work in a high risk and, consequently, high stress environment. Any aspect of the organisation, including the physical environment, structures, roles or relationships, can cause negative stress (distress). Poor communication is one of the most common causes of stress in organisations. Working shifts or overtime can also be a major source of stress. People who work in dangerous environments such as the security industry, and encounter threats to their own lives as part of their work, experience even more distress. Similarly, those who witness the death and injury of colleagues or civilians
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will also experience a higher level of stress, which may negatively affect their wellbeing. If they don’t use effective coping strategies, they will remain stressed, and this could have a negative impact on them as well as their organisation or community. Stress is generally defined as any circumstances that threaten, or are perceived to threaten, a person’s wellbeing and thereby exceeds their ability to cope. The threat may be in the form of their immediate physical safety, self-esteem, reputation, peace of mind or anything that they value. Work stress is consequently a mental state that can cause behavioural
SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA FEBRUARY 2021
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