UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG CORRECTIONAL STAFF IN SINGAPORE: THE INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL

Abstract

Correctional staff work in a challenging environment, where they are often exposed to a variety of negative occupational experiences, such as environmental and duty-related stressors. Psychological capital has been found to have positive effects on employee performance, satisfaction and well-being. However, psychological capital has rarely been studied in correctional settings. Hence, the present study aims to examine the relationship between environmental and duty-related stressors and psychological well-being of staff from Singapore Prison Service (SPS), and assess the degree to which psychological capital moderates these relationships. Two hundred and eighty five SPS staff made up of psychologists, correctional rehabilitation specialists and reintegration officers completed an online questionnaire that includes measures of correctional officer job demands, job stress, psychological well-being and psychological capital. Regression analyses revealed that increased perception of environmental-related stressors was associated with lower psychological well-being, and psychological capital was associated with increased psychological well-being for correctional staff as a group. However, psychological capital did not moderate the relationship between environmental and duty-related stressors on correctional staff’s psychological well-being. Overall, the findings offer new understanding towards contributing factors that affect psychological well-being among correctional staff. Understanding these factors can help generate strategies towards building a mentally resilient workforce.