Friday, July 24, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.
Room 203, Graduate Student Center (6371 Crescent Road), UBC Point Grey Campus
Title: “What helps, Hinders, and Might Help Police Officers Maintain a Broad Identity.”
Supervisor: Dr. Bill Borgen (CNPS)
Supervisory Committee: Dr. Marla Buchanan (CNPS)
University Examiners: Dr. Carl Leggo (LLED) & Dr. Ishu Ishiyama (CNPS)
External Examiner: Dr. Jeffrey Landine (University of New Brunswick)
ABSTRACT
Previous research indicates that police officers tend to narrow their sense of identity when they acquire the police officer role. This tendency can be problematic, as it detracts from officers’ coping resources. The researcher used the Enhanced Critical Incident Technique (ECIT) to examine what helps, hinders, and might help police officers to maintain a broad identity. For this study, broad identity refers to enjoying a range of occupational, social, and personal roles. The findings contribute to work-life balance literature with an identification of what might help officers to maintain balance.
Twenty-one police officers from across Canada and the United States were interviewed to explore their perspective as to what factors impacted their ability to maintain multiple life roles. Analysis of participant responses resulted in the identification of 400 critical incidents, 221 helping, 126 hindering, and 53 wish list items, forming 23 categories. Participants identified their values, personal standards for living and parental influence as the strongest helping factor for maintaining their broad identity. This factor was followed by the impact of a regrettable experience and family support. Work hours was the strongest hindering factor. Implications for future research are discussed. Implications for counselling and police organizational practices include supporting police and their families in fortifying other life roles and managing role conflicts.