Effect of a Combined Coping Skills and Wellness Program on Perceived Stress and Physical Energy among Police Emergency Dispatchers: An Exploratory Study

The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine the effectiveness of a coping and wellness program on changes in perceived stress, job satisfaction, and physical energy among emergency dispatchers (EDs) from a medium-sized (110 k+) city in the southeastern U.S. Participants included nine EDs, ranging in age from 24 to 45 yrs, who agreed to complete a 2-hour seminar on coping skills and receive instruction on proper strength training at a local fitness club over a 10-week period. Results indicated significantly greater use of avoidance (but not approach) coping strategies and markedly improved perceived physical energy. Perceived stress, but not job satisfaction, significantly improved at posttest. A manipulation check to determine the effect of the exercise intervention indicated significant improvements in upper and lower body strength. Personal narratives by selected EDs indicated that the work environment was particularly “challenging” and that the coping skills program was helpful in dealing with the array of job-related stressors. These results support the need for additional research on the effects of coping skills and wellness programs on the mental and physical health and job performance of EDs.