1 |Minor Research Proposal, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune

A Research Proposal for Financial Assistance

Submitted to
ICSSR, New Delhi

A Study of Stress among Male and Female Police Personnel and Social Work
Intervention with special reference to Pune city

Police Stress- An Introduction:

Stress plays a part in the lives of everyone. Some stress is not only inevitable, it can be
good. For example, the physical stress of “working out” improves your cardiovascular
system, and feeling pressure that causes you to study harder for an exam can improve your
score. Police stress, however, refers to the negative pressures related to police work. Police
officers are not super humans. According to Gail Goolkasian and others, research shows that
they are affected by their daily exposure to human indecency and pain; that dealing with a
suspicious and sometimes hostile public takes its toll on them; and that the shift changes, the
long periods of boredom, and the ever-present danger that are part of police work do cause
serious job stress.

Dr. Hans Selye’s classic The Stress of Life describes the effect of long-term
environmental threats he calls “stressors.” Dr. Selye maintains that the unrelieved effort to
cope with stressors can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, ulcers, digestive disorders,
and headaches. Stressors in police work fall into four categories:

1. Stresses inherent in police work.

2. Stresses arising internally from police department practices and policies.
3. External stresses stemming from the criminal justice system and the society at large.
4. Internal stresses confronting individual officers. 46

Police stress arises from several features of police work. Alterations in body rhythms
from monthly shift rotation, for example, reduce productivity. The change from a day to a
swing, or graveyard, shift not only requires biological adjustment but also complicates
officers’ personal lives. Role conflicts between the job—serving the public, enforcing the law,
2 |Minor Research Proposal, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune
and upholding ethical standards—and personal responsibilities as spouse, parent, and friend
act as stressors. Other stressors in police work include:

Threats to officers’ health and safety

Boredom, alternating with the need for sudden alertness and mobilized energy.
Responsibility for protecting the lives of others.
Continual exposure to people in pain or distress.
The need to control emotions even when provoked.
The presence of a gun, even during off-duty hours.
The fragmented nature of police work, with only rare opportunities to follow
cases to conclusion or even to obtain feedback or follow-up information.

Administrative policies and procedures, which officers rarely participate in

formulating, can add to stress. One-officer patrol cars create anxiety and a reduced sense of
safety. Internal investigation practices create the feeling of being watched and not trusted,
even during off-duty hours. Officers sometimes feel they have fewer rights than the criminals
they apprehend. Lack of rewards for good job performance, insufficient training, and
excessive paperwork can also contribute to police stress.

The criminal justice system creates additional stress. Court appearances interfere with
police officers’ work assignments, personal time, and even sleeping schedules. Turf battles
among agencies, court decisions curtailing discretion, perceived leniency of the courts, and
release of offenders on bail, probation, or parole also lead to stress. Further stress arises from
perceived lack of support and negative attitudes toward police from the larger society. (Most
public opinion surveys, however, show strong support for and positive attitudes toward
police.) Stress also stems from distorted and/or unfavorable news accounts of incidents
involving police. The inaccessibility and perceived ineffectiveness of social service and
rehabilitation agencies to which officers refer individuals act as further stressors.

3 |Minor Research Proposal, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune

Stress among Women Police:-

Women and minority officers face additional stressors. They are more likely to face
disapproval from fellow officers and from family and friends for entering police work.
Supervisors, peers, and the public question women officers’ ability to handle the emotional
and physical rigors of the job, even though research indicates women can do so. The need to
“prove themselves” to male officers and to the public constitutes a major stressor for women
officers.

Stress contributes not only to the physical disorders previously mentioned, but also to
emotional problems. Some research suggests that police officers commit suicide at a higher
rate than other groups. Most investigators report unusually high rates of divorce among police.
Although some maintain that researchers have exaggerated the divorce rate among police,
interview surveys demonstrate that police stress reduces the quality of family life. A majority
of officers interviewed reported that police work inhibits non-police friendships, interferes
with scheduling family social events, and generates a negative public image. Furthermore,
they take job pressures home, and spouses worry about officers’ safety. Systematic studies do
not confirm the widely held belief that police suffer from unusually high rates of alcoholism,
although indirect research has established a relationship between high job stress and excessive
drinking. Finally, officers interviewed cited guilt, anxiety, fear, nightmares, and insomnia
following involvement in shooting incidents.

Pune City police is the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over 790 km2
comprising Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad cities in Maharashtra. The city police are division of
Maharashtra Police. The current Pune commissionerate came into existence on 1 July 1965.
Pune City Police operates from 33 police stations. It also has the responsibility of traffic
policing the city roads.

4 |Minor Research Proposal, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune

 Pune City Police
Motto Safety, Security, Satisfaction (SSS)
Agency Overview
Formed 1764
Employees 9000 (approximately)
Legal Personality Governmental: Government Agency
Jurisdictional Structure
Size 790 km.2
Population 73,58,008
Legal Jurisdiction Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad
General nature • Law Enforcement

• Civilian Agency
Operational Structure
Headquarters 2, Sadhu Waswani Road, Camp
Elected Officer Responsible Mr. R. R. Patil (Home Minister)
Agency Executive Mr. Gulabrao Pol (IPS),
Commissioner
Parent Agency Maharashtra Police
Facilities
Stations 33
Lock ups 2

Social Work Intervention in Stress Management:

Stress management refers to the wide spectrum of techniques and psychotherapies

aimed at controlling a person's levels of stress, especially chronic stress, usually for the
purpose of improving everyday functioning. While working with a specific group having
stressed one of the social work methods; social group work can be appropriate as a effective
method for managing stress.

Social workers are typically associated with two types of groups: treatment groups and
task groups. Each of these categories, in turn, has several sub-types. Stated broadly, the

5 |Minor Research Proposal, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune

purpose of treatment groups is to meet members’ socio-emotional needs. In treatment groups,
communications are open and members are encouraged to actively interact. Member roles in
treatment groups evolve as a result of interaction. In treatment groups, self-disclosure is
expected to be high, proceedings are kept within the group, and group success is based on
individual members’ success in meeting the treatment goals. Toseland and Rivas (2009)
further refine their classification of treatment groups by describing sub-types that are
categorized by their unique purposes. The sub-types are; a) Support groups, b) Educational
groups, c) Growth groups, d) Therapy groups, e) Socialization groups

Growth groups: stress self-improvement, offering members opportunity to expand

their capabilities and self-awareness and make personal changes (e.g., personal developmental
groups or a communication enhancement group for couples). Growth groups focus on
promoting socio-emotional health rather than alleviating socio-emotional deficits. (Hepworth Dean

H. al., 2010, Theory and Skills in Social Work, Cengage learning, pg. 277, 278)

Statement of the Problem:-

Today the nature of society has become complex and complicated due to
industrialization, urbanization; westernization, technological development and globalization.
Hence one can observe number of changes and problems in the society. The delinquency in
the family, schools, community, crimes in the family neighborhood, community institutions
are increasing day by day. To control this, the government has created number of laws and has
framed the rules, created the mechanisms, provisions are made for punishment, and however
neither the delinquency nor the crime is under control. Day by day they are increasing,
challenging and threatening the people and the society. The following table proves that above
statement.

According to Crime in Maharashtra Report IPC offences in 2010, 84217 cases were
reported in the 9 commissinerates (excluding Mumbai Rly.) 33932 (40.29%) are reported in
Mumbai (C) alone. Next in order of volume were in Pune (C) (13602). Thane (C) (9943).
Nagpur (C) (7728) and Navi Mumbai (C) (5873).

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 According to the state Economic Survey (ES) report, Maharashtra was ahead of Bihar
when it came to thefts, robberies, dacoities and crimes against women and children.

As per CID reports (2005), crime rate in the state rose by 18% in the last five years.
"Crimes against women went up by 30% and economic offences by 5% in the corresponding
period". "In 2010, crimes against women rose by 8.3% over the last year. Cases of sexual
harassment increased by 10%, immoral trafficking by 11%, harassment by in-laws by
8.6%, and rape by 6.9%."

A total of 57, 33,407 cognizable crimes comprising of 19, 89,673 Indian Penal Code
(IPC) crimes and 37,43,734 Special & Local Laws (SLL) crimes were reported, showing an
increase of 12.4% over 2006 (51,02,460).

• IPC crime rate in 2007 was 175.1 as compared to 167.7 in 2006 thereby recording an
increase of 4.4%.
• The IPC crimes reported a lower growth rate of 15.7% as compared to the fast pace
of population growth of 19.0% in the decade.

The crime rate for IPC crimes at National level increased by 4.4% (from 167.7 in 2006
to 175.1 in 2007), and, the crime rate in cities has increased by 3.2% (from 302.5 in 2006 to
312.3 in 2007).

27, 80,559 persons were arrested under IPC crimes on an average, 1.4 persons were
arrested per IPC case in the country.

Source: National Crime Records http://ncrb.nic.in/ciiprevious/Data/CD-CII2007/home.htm

In context of Pune city the following table indicates that the cognizable crime in rural
area has increased by 59 % and but in city area by 44 %. However there is decrease of crime
rate (13%) with regards to Pune city.

7 |Minor Research Proposal, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune

 Range Total Cog. Crime Total Cog. Crime
in Jan. 12 in Jan. 13
Pune Rural 940 1157
Pune Com. 1783 1945
Pune Rly. 86 50
Source: crime branch bureau Maharashtra

Conceptual Framework:

1) Stress: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language (2009) defines
stress as “a mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in
response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health,
usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular
tension, irritability and depression”.
2) Police: The First Police Commission, appointed on 17 August 1865, contained
detailed guidelines for the desired system of police in India and defined the police as a
governmental department to maintain order, enforce the law, and to prevent and detect
crime.

Research Questions:
1. What is nature, causes and level of stress among male and female police?
2. How stress affects on the work efficiency of police?
3. How/Why social work intervention is needful for police in managing their stress?

Objectives of the Study: -

1. To study the nature of stress and the factors responsible in increasing the stress on the
police.
2. To measure and compare the stress level among the male and female police.
3. To intervene with the Social Group Work method for stress management.
4. To improve work efficiency of police personnel through developing skills in
recognizing and resolving interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts.
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Review of Literature:

Research by M.Shunmuga Sundaram and M. Jeya Kumaran Department of

Business Administration, Kalasalingam University, Krishnan Kovil, Tamilnadu, INDIA on
‘Stress among Female Police Constables Reference to Tamilnadu Police Department, India
shows the stress level among female police.
Table-2
Overall level of stress

Level of stress Frequency Percent

Very low stress 13 5

Low stress 25 9
Neither stress nor no stress 32 12
High Stress 90 33
very high stress 114 42
Total 274 100

The study conclude that Stress due to insufficient personal time, Seeing criminals
going free, Lack of recognition for good work, Having to go to court, Having to deal with the
media, Meeting deadlines, Working overtime, Dealing with crisis situations, Lack of
opportunity for advancement, Competition for advancement Inadequate salary, Delivering a
death message or bad news are the primary causes of stress among police constables. Further,
it empirically investigated that age, gender, religion, service of the years, marital status,
income and the place of residence in the same field has significant association with stress
level among police constables. The study suggests to regularly organizing the training
programs, counseling and medical checkups for stress management of women police
constables.

David Capuzzi , Douglas R.Gross, Mark D.Stauffer in Fourth Edition ‘Introduction to

Group Work’ published by Rawat Publication Jaipur page no. 38 describes about complexity

9 |Minor Research Proposal, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune

of groups due to group members behavior, thoughts, feelings. Group norms can regulate the
individual behavior and interactions between the group members. They also clarify the
distinction between group therapy, group counseling and group guidance.

Stress produces numerous symptoms which vary according to persons,

situations, and severity. These can include physical health decline as well as depression. The
process of stress management is named as one of the keys to a happy and successful life in
modern society. Although life provides numerous demands that can prove difficult to handle,
stress management provides a number of ways to manage anxiety and maintain overall well-
being.

The Holmes and Rahe stress scale is a list of 43 stressful life events that can
contribute to illness. In 1967, psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe examined the
medical records of over 5,000 medical patients as a way to determine whether stressful events
might cause illnesses. Patients were asked to tally a list of 43 life events based on a relative
score. Their results were published as the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), known
more commonly as the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale. Subsequent validation has supported
the links between stress and illness.

Selye discovered and documented that stress differs from other physical responses in
that stress is stressful whether one receives good or bad news, whether the impulse is positive
or negative. He called negative stress "distress" and positive stress "eustress". The system
whereby the body copes with stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis)
system, was also first described by Selye. He also pointed to an "alarm state", a "resistance
state", and an "exhaustion state", largely referring to glandular states. Later he developed the
idea of two "reservoirs" of stress resistance, or alternatively stress energy. In 2004, Selye's
aim of making evidence-based, practice-focused training for health and workplace
professionals available globally was realized in the launch of training for Certified Stress &
Wellness Consultants via distance learning. Selye was one of the highly productive scientists
in the 20th century, with over 1,000 research publications, according a study by Kantha
(1992).

10 |Minor Research Proposal, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune

 The flight or fight response, also called the "acute stress response" was first described
by Walter Cannon in the 1920s as a theory that animals react to threats with a general
discharge of the sympathetic nervous system. The response was later recognized as the first
stage of a general adaptation syndrome that regulates stress responses among vertebrates and
other organisms.

Research Gap:

The stress level of police is always discussed by the public in the society but very little
research studied has been carried out by the researchers. The research studies on stress
management and social work intervention with group work method has not been studied yet.
Through this intervention based research project the researcher wants to apply scientific
approach with police to manage their stress.

Therapies/ Theories that will be used:

H.Y. Sidddiqui elaborate in the book’ Group work Theories and Practices’ about the
assumptions and theories helpful in working with groups.

Life Skills: One of the frame works used in working with group is the assumption that
many person’s lack the requisite skills and experiences to cope with stresses in their social
relationships. The group worker can also help them to learn new life skills to update their
competence to cope with stresses and sources of stresses.

Emotional Support: Many persons experience trauma due to variety of reasons. This
produces stress and could become traumatic. Reaction to stress may vary such as withdrawal
or opting out, depression, loss of control, in ability to concentrate, irritability, disturbed sleep
or eating patterns, flash backs and emotional numbing(Carll,1994) this will require a different
set of life skills and coping strategies to survive. The studies indicate that emotional support
from others who have undergone a similar trauma is helpful (Shelby, 1994). The findings are
used to form groups of persons having suffered a trauma to provide emotional support to each
other.

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 Psychoanalytic Theory: Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory suggest that through dire,
mutual interpersonal communications member build interpersonal skills, adaptive capacities
and ego strength and develop self awareness of their behavior and its implications in a group
situation. The cohesiveness of the group helps the members to feel secure and able to share
the intimate personal details of their life and to act out their conflicts in the safe and
supportive environment of the group.

Field Theory: Kurt Lewin (1946) was one of the pioneers to scientifically study group
functioning. He introduced several concepts to help in the understanding of forces at work in
the group. Some of them are: a) Role: Status, rights and duties of group members. b) Norms:
rules governing the behavior of group members; c) Power: the ability of members to influence
one another; d) Cohesion: the attraction the group members feel towards one another and
towards the group; e) Consensus: degree of agreement regarding goals and other group
phenomena; and f) Valence: the potency the goals and objects in the life space of the group.

System Theory: Talcott Parsons (1951) describes about the social systems are
constantly facing new challenges as the environment around them and within; is constantly
changing. Therefore, they must act to maintain the equilibrium if they have to survive. This
act of survival depends upon four basic functions: a) integration b) adaptation c) pattern
maintenance, and d) goal attainment.

Conflict Theory: Sociologist have identified two broad categories of conflict.

1) Endogenous Conflict: this refers to sources of the changes from within a society.
2) Exogenous Conflict: this refers to changes from without or between systems.
Endogenous Conflict highlights the following sources of conflict.
a) Inherent predilection to change.
b) Conflict over the differential distribution of resources such as wealth, power, and
prestige.
c) Conflict of values
d) Conflict of authority
e) Conflict between individual and collectivity.

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 The Exogenous Conflict identifies three sources
a) Wars
b) Cultural invasion
c) Conflict of ideology

Application of BRIEF Counseling or therapy :

By using this therapy, clients are encouraged to look an exceptions, as well as strengths and
areas of competence. Because negative experiences are associated with many issues of loss,
clients frequently become more discouraged the more they talk about the problem. Focusing
on the positive is an effective way for clients to feel more hopeful (Littrell & Zinck , 2004).

With the brief therapy approach, it is assumed that clients possess the resources to address the
problem. This is an empowering concept, and within the group setting, empowered group
members can help others access their own solutions.

Research Methodology

Research Design: The basic Single-Subject design will be used for Social Work intervention.
Single subject design aims at systematic evaluation of practice through the use of scientific
research techniques. This AB design involves one baseline assessment and one intervention
phase. It provides better evidence of Intervention effects. Pre intervention data will be
collected by standard scale then Social Work intervention will be done with the help of Social
Group Work method. 10 sessions will be conducted, one session in 15 days with each male
and female police. Post intervention data will be collected and drawn the inferences.

Coverage:

i) Universe of the study: Pune city police. The approximately total police personnel
in the Pune are 9000 in which the total women personnel are 1380. It shows that there
is only 15% women police representation in the total police force.

13 |Minor Research Proposal, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune

 ii) Sampling frame: As per the organizational structure of Pune police Under the
Additional Commissioner of police South region and North Region there are 4 zones.
Their structure is as below;

Commissioner of Police
Additional Commissioner of Police
South Zone North Zone
Zone I Zone II Zone III Zone IV
Division Police Division Police Division Police Division Police
Stations Stations Station Stations
s
City 2 Lakshar 3 Chatushrungi 3 Khadki 4
Vishram 2 Swargate 7 Pimpri 5 Wanawadi 4
bagh
Deccan 3

In the zone 2 there are 6 Police stations. Sample will be selected from various ranking
of police from 1Police station as a Case Study.

iii) Sampling methods: Considering the organizational structure in Sahakarnagar

Police Station sample will be selected through probability Sampling Method in which
proportionate stratified sampling method will be utilized.

iv) Sampling Size: 64 police personnel will be selected for study.

a) Data collection:
i) Sources of data: Primary data will be collected through interview Schedule with
male and female police
Secondary data will be collected through reference books, News paper, websites,
discussions with psychologist etc.

14 |Minor Research Proposal, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune

 ii) Types of data: Qualitative and Quantitative data will be composed.

iii) Tools and techniques for collection of various categories of proposed data:

Stress of male and female police personnel will be measured by using Standard scale
i.e. Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale. Proposed Planning of Sessions of Group Work is as
follow. 10 sessions of one hour each with at least 15 days gap between each session for
homework assignments. Since emotional states are often expressed in terms of bodily
reactions the phase-1 will consist of the stress management session including relaxation
training plan, phase-II self management and mood management techniques and phase-III will
be professional Counseling and Group Therapies before a formal termination of this
multidimensional programme.

Session No. Topic

Phase I

1 Body relaxation exercises

2 Breathing techniques

3 Physical exercise

4 Yoga

Work out routine

Phase II

5 Meditation

6 Personal Productivity Skills

Training

7 Conflict Resolution Skills Training

Phase III

8 Counseling (Group and individual)

9 & 10 Use of Therapies

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(C) Data Analysis: Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) will be used for data
analysis, content analysis.

Implications: This research will bring in need of attention towards stress management and
coping mechanisms to police force. It will help the police system to revise the policy about
prolong stress management programs for police force. This research will also help in
developing effectiveness of Social Group Work method in stress management and with police.

Duration of the Project: This research will be Social work intervention research the time
needed for various tasks are as follows.

Tasks Proposed Time

1. Pre-testing and Finalization of 2 months

Tools

2. Pre Intervention Data Collection 3 months

3. Social Work Intervention 10months

4. Post Intervention Data Collection 3Months

5. Data Analysis 4 months

6. Report Writing 2 months

Total Duration 24 months

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Budget Proposed by the Scholar :

Sr. No. Research Activities No. of Personnel Duration Cost (Rs)

required
1 Research Investigators 1 10 months 1,05,000
@ Rs 10500 per month
2 Travel 21,250
3 Data Processing 30,000
4 Stationary and Printing 20,000
5 Books ,Journals etc. 12,500
6 Contingencies Expenses 12,500
7 Any Other 30,000
8 Overhead Expenditure 18,750
Grand Total 2,50,000

Limitation of the study:

1. This study is an intervention based case study so it is limited only to one police station
of Pune city
2. Due to hectic schedule of police personnel the time can be a big limitation in this study

Bibliography:

1. Engel Rafael G, (2009), Practice of Research in Social Work, Second Edition, Sage
Publications, New Delhi

2. Garvin Charles D. and al., (2007), Handbook of Social Work with Groups, Rawat
Publications, New Delhi

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale

4. http://www.gostress.com/stress-definitions/
5. http://www.isca.in/IJSS/Archive/v1i3/3.ISCA-IRJSS-2012-034.pdf
6. http://www.ncsu.edu/assessment/resources/perceived_stress_scale.pdf

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 7. http://www.psychologistworld.com/stress/fightflight.php

8. http://www.punepolice.gov.in/sites/default/files/vpdf/abhiyanenglish.pdf
9. http://www.soc.umn.edu/~samaha/cases/police_stress.htm

10. Rubin Allen and Babbie Earl, (2010), Methods for Social Work Research, Indian
edition, Cengage Learning

11. Siddiqui H.Y. David Capuzzi , Douglas R.Gross, Mark D.Stauffer, Introduction to
Group Work Fourth Edition, Rawat Publication, Jaipur

12. Weiten Wayne and Lloyd Margaret A., (2000), Psychology Applied to Modern Life,
Sixth Edition, Wadsworth

Pune: 29th June 2013

(Geeta Joshi) (Ketaki Gokhale)

Principal Investigator Co- Investigator

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