Abstract
M.A.
The goal of the present study was to investigate the relationship between trait
anxiety, years of service and posttraumatic stress disorder in the South African
Police Service. This study was regarded as important because posttraumatic
stress can have a significant influence on the personal life and work-related
performance of police officers.
One hundred and twenty white, male police officers volunteered to participate
in the study. A structural model of the relationships between trait anxiety,
years of service and posttraumatic stress was postulated. The model specified
that trait anxiety and years of service influence posttraumatic stress both
individually and jointly. Trait anxiety is operationalised by means of the IPAT
Anxiety Scale and posttraumatic stress disorder by means of the Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder Interview Schedule.
The fit of the postulated model with the observed data was investigated by
means of structural equation modelling. The results indicated that the postulated
model showed an acceptable fit with the observed data. The estimated
parameters of the model indicated that the subscales of the IPAT Anxiety
Scale and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Interview Schedule are good indicators
of their respective constructs. It was further shown that trait anxiety
and years of service have a significant influence on posttraumatic stress disorder.
The results support those of previous studies where it was shown that these
variables can influence posttraumatic stress disorder. The present study emphasizes
that trait anxiety may predispose police officers to the development
of trait anxiety. The study also shows that if police officers are exposed to extended
periods of traumatic experiences, they run the risk of developing posttraumatic
stress disorder.