A behavioral-analytic model for assessing stress in police officers: phase I. Development of the Law Enforcement Officer Stress Survey (LEOSS)

Abstract

Research and clinical reports over the past 25 years have documented the high level of stress inherent in the law enforcement profession. Further, these findings have indicated a wide range of negative physical and mental health sequelae from this stress. The present study employed a behavioral-analytic assessment approach to develop a brief, early warning screening measure of stress among law enforcement officers, the Law Enforcement Officer Stress Survey (LEOSS). This paper describes the initial phases of the LEOSS development following the behavioral-analytic method, which included situational analysis, item development, response enumeration, response evaluation, and construction of the survey. This process resulted in a final 25-item instrument specifically geared toward evaluation of stress in law enforcement officers. The next phase of research on the LEOSS, and suggestions for directions that research in this area might take, are offered.