Implication of Stress on Police Marriages among Officers in Kasarani Police Station- Nairobi County

The nature of Police work includes toxic work environment and uncertain danger which imparts a unique type of stress that may spill over from work life to family life. The study sought to find out types of stress, the implications of stress on police officers' marriages and social support interventions available for the police. The study was anchored on three theories related to the study: Cognitive activation theory, Resource theory and Structural family therapy. A quantitative as well as qualitative design were employed in this study. A questionnaire adapted from McCrery, Thompson and Murray (2013) was utilized to collect data. The officers were selected through snowballing sampling. The study utilized a sample of 75 police officers from Kasarani police station and an interview from the Officer Commanding Police Post at Sunton in Kasarani, Nairobi County. Data analysis was by use of SPSS. The findings are presented in form of descriptive statistics using percentages and frequency tables. Qualitative data interview is well discussed. The findings revealed that major cause of police officers' stressors included injuries on the job. The officers project their stress and frustration back to their families at home. From the findings, majority of the officers found their spiritual belief as the source of their strength, while some talked to their spouses about their own stress and fears. The officers reported lack of psychological support from the police department. The OCPP reported that: work load, uncertain shift work and inadequate time to deal with their issues are among causes of stress. According to the OCPP, psychological services should be made accessible to the police officers. The study recommends need for police officers to have clear working conditions and availability of emotional support whenever the officers and their families need counseling services.