The Impact of Individual Factors, Job Characteristics, and Organizational Variables on Job Stress and Job Satisfaction Among Community Corrections Staff

Community corrections (e.g., probation, parole, halfway houses) is the largest correctional placement in the United States, yet little research assesses community corrections staff experiences with job stress and job satisfaction. The purpose of this article is to extend the literature on community corrections officers by assessing the influence of individual factors, job characteristics, and organizational variables on both job stress and job satisfaction. In general, we found that the influence of individual factors and job characteristics differed for job stress compared to job satisfaction. Similarly, the impact of organizational factors on these outcomes also differed, although this was contrary to our expectations. Finally, job stress had a negative effect on job satisfaction and organizational factors had a larger impact on both job stress and job satisfaction, compared to individual and job characteristics. Our results provide a number of possible areas for departments to focus on in order to reduce job stress and increase job satisfaction among probation/parole and residential officers.