| This exploratory study was designed to test a hypothesized causal model developed by Moos (1984). The model is used to examine levels of perceived and experienced occupational stress, life stress, person and environmental variables, social support, coping style, job satisfaction, performance variables, and physical and psychological well-being in a sample of private security officers.;Subjects voluntarily completed the 14 page questionnaire, which measured personal and background information, characteristics of the work environment and job duties, levels of perceived and experienced occupational stress, number of stressful life events, coping style, level of social support, job satisfaction, performance variables, physical health, and psychological well-being.;The hypothesized causal model (Moos, 1984) was not supported by this study. Only the stressor variables and the social support variables had significant direct effects on health and well-being. Person variables and environmental variables had no effects on stressful outcome, and the effect of coping on adaptation was marginal. Environmental variables had a direct effect on method of coping.;The results, while not fully confirming the Moos model (1984), do not negate the necessity of future research continuing to focus on factors other than stressors and social support in predicting adaptational outcomes. The personality variable of hardiness, amount of exercise, and an avoidant coping style show particular promise, While integrated approaches that simultaneously examine multiple elements of the stress process are necessary to increase explanatory power (Lin, Dean, & Ensel, 1981), a move toward formulating a more concise model needs to be explored. In this light, an additive burden model is discussed. Similarly, alternative methods of measurement, such as biophysical measures, could be used, in addition to paper and pencil instruments, to increase predictive power.;Participants were 387 contract security officers employed by a metropolitan private security firm. They ranged in age from 18 to 70 years; 43.9% were White, 30.7% were Black; 92% were male; 77.7% held the rank of patrolperson or lower. Officers employed in hospital/health care settings constituted 52.8% of the sample, and the remainder were from a range of other types of facilities. All shifts were well-represented. |
