| Peer-Reviewed

Identifying types of Mental Health Problems and Aggression among Security Guards: Are they Totally Safe

Received: 14 June 2013    Accepted:     Published: 20 July 2013
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Security guards give service within several ranges of tasks. In the line of duty in various work settings, guards may be expected to maintain order and to detain criminal violators while appointed to a single property or placed on patrol for various sites or territories. Concisely, a security guard may encounter a variety of situations, locations, and behaviours. With such a heavy responsibility and important duties, it is very important to make sure that the security guards are mentally and behaviourally healthy and safe. Concerning these issues, this study aimed to identify types of mental health problem and aggression among security guards. In addition, association between mental health problems and aggression, and difference between male and female security guards in terms of mental health problems were examined. Self-report surveys were conducted among 300 security guards in data collection. The findings identified four subtypes of mental health problems: substance abuse, antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and depression, experienced by the security guards. The security guards were also reported to be performing physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility. Male and female security guards showed significant difference in occurrence of mental health problems. The association between the mental health problems and aggression were also found mostly significant. Concisely, prevalence of mental health problems and aggressive behaviours was identified among security guards. These findings suggest that people who work as security guards in the presence of mental health problems are not totally safe. The findings recommend a serious need for mental health problems assessment among security guards during the enrolment or whilst performing daily duties in order to ensure healthy and safe employer and the public as whole and safe workplace environment. The findings of this study are crucial for public awareness.

Published in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.pbs.20130203.18
Page(s) 130-137
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Security guard, Mental health problems, Aggression

References
[1] T. Leino, R. Selin, H. Summala, and M. Virtanen, "Work-related violence against security guards – Who is most at risk?" Ind. Health, vol. 49, pp. 143-150, December 2011.
[2] H. D. Harvey, P. Fleming, and D. Mooney, "Violence at work: An initial needs assessment for the environmental health department as a health promoting workplace," JEHR, vol. 1, pp. 41-49, 2002.
[3] T. Carmi-Iluz, R. Peleg, T. Freud, and P. Shwartzman, "Verbal and physical violence towards hospital- and community-based physicians in the Negev: An observational study," BMC Health Serv. Res., vol. 5, Research article, August 2005.
[4] B. Beech and P. Leather, "Workplace violence in the healthcare sector: A review of staff training and integration of training evaluation models," Aggress. Violent Beh., vol. 11, pp. 27-43, August 2006.
[5] J. Wieclaw, et al., "Work related violence and threats and the risk of depression and stress disorders," J. Epidemiol. Community Health, vol. 60, pp. 771-775, September 2006.
[6] F. Declercq, S. Vanheule, S. Markey, and J. Willemsen, "Posttraumatic distress in security guards and the serious effects of social support," J. Clin. Psychol., vol. 63, pp. 1239-1246, December 2007.
[7] H. Born, M. Caparini, and E. Cole, "Regulating private security companies in Europe: Status and prospects," Policy Paper no.20, Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, 2007.
[8] T. Prenzler, K. Earle, and R. Sarre, "Private security in Australia: Trends and key characteristics," Trends & Issues in Crime & Criminal Justice, no. 374. Canberra, Australia: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2009.
[9] E. E. Joh, "The paradox of private policing," J. Crim. Law Crim., vol. 95, pp. 49-131, 2004.
[10] M. Kempa, P. Stenning, and J. Wood, "Policing communal spaces: A reconfiguration of the ‘Mass Private Property’ hypothesis," Brit. J. Criminol., vol. 44, pp. 562-581, April 2004.
[11] R. H. Moore Jr., "Civil liability for negligent and inadequate training: A private security problem," J. Contemp. Crim. Just., vol. 4, pp. 106-118, May 1988.
[12] V. Di Martino, H. Hoel, and C. L. Cooper, "Preventing violence and harassment in the workplace," Dublin, Ireland: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, 2003.
[13] L. Alfredsson, T. Akerstedt, M. Mattsson, and B. Wilborg, "Self-reported health and well-being amongst night security guards: A comparison with the working population," Ergonomics, vol. 34, pp. 525-530, May 1991.
[14] B. Grosswald, "The effects of shift work on family satisfaction," Fam. Soc., vol. 85, pp. 413-423, 2004.
[15] S. M. Jex and P. D. Bliese, "Efficacy beliefs as a moderator of the impact of work-related stressors: A multilevel study," J. Appl. Psychol., vol. 84, pp. 349-361, June 1999.
[16] T. Leino, "Work-related violence and its associations with psychological health: A study of Finnish police patrol officers and security guards," Helsinki, Finland: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 2013.
[17] B. Kucera, "Discussion paper on workplace aggressive behaviour and bullying," East Perth, Western Australia: The Workplace Aggressive Behaviour and Bullying Working Party, Minister for Health, 2003.
[18] C. S. Dewa, A. Lesage, P. Goering, and M. Caveen, "Nature and prevalence of mental illness in the workplace," Healthc. Pap., vol. 5, pp. 12-25, October 2004.
[19] U. R. Srivastava, "Shift work related to stress, health and mood states: A study of dairy workers," Journal of Health Management, vol. 12, pp. 173-200, July 2010.
[20] L. C. C. Cheung, H. W. H. Tsang, and C. U. Tsui, "a job-specific social skills training program for people with severe mental illness: A case study for those who plan to be a security guard," J. Rehabil., vol. 72, pp. 14-23, October 2006.
[21] J. A. Silva, G. B. Leong, and R. Weinstock, "Psychotic patient as security guard," J. Forensic Sci., vol. 38, pp. 1436-1440, November 1993.
[22] N. Ogińska-Bulik, "The role of personal and social resources in preventing adverse health outcomes in employees of uniformed professions," Int. J. Occup. Med. Environ. Health, vol. 18, pp. 233-240, July 2005.
[23] M. Jamal, "Burnout, stress and health of employees on non-standard working schedules: A study of Canadian workers," Stress Health, vol. 20, pp. 113-119, August 2004.
[24] K. Kogi, "International research needs for improving sleep and health of workers," Ind. Health, vol. 43, pp. 71-79, January 2005.
[25] M. Jakupcak, et al., "Anger, hostility, and aggression among Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans reporting PTSD and subthreshold PTSD," J. Trauma. Stress, vol. 20, pp. 945-954, December 2007.
[26] M. Tull, "Constructive vs. destructive anger in PTSD," November 2012. Retrieved from: http://ptsd.about.com/od/relatedconditions/a/PTSDanger.htm
[27] World Health Organization, "Mental health: A state of well-being," October 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/index.html
[28] D.M. de Barros and A. de Pádua Serafim, "Association between personality disorders and violent behavior," Forensic Sci. Int., vol. 179, pp. 19-22, April 2008.
[29] C. Logan and R. Blackburn, "Mental disorder in violent women in secure settings: Potential relevance to risk for future violence," Int. J. Law Psychiatry, 32, 31-38, January to February 2009.
[30] T.D. Gunter, "Incarcerated women and depression: A primer for the primary care provider," J. Am. Med. Womens Assoc., vol. 59, pp. 107-112, 2004.
[31] L. Citrome and J. Volavka, "Treatment of violent behavior," in Psychiatry, 2nd ed., A. Tasman, J. Kay, and J. Lieberman, Eds. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2003, Chapter 103.
[32] C. L. Scott and P. J. Resnick, "Violence risk assessment in persons with mental illness," Aggress. Violent Beh., vol. 11, pp. 598-611, May 2006.
[33] R. H. Peters, et al., "Effectiveness of screening instruments in detecting substance use disorders among prisoners," J. Subst. Abuse Treat., vol. 18, pp. 349-358, June 2000.
[34] Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), "Simple Screening Instruments for Outreach for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Infectious Diseases: Treatment Improvement Protocol Series 11," Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. Publication (SMA) 95-3058, 1994.
[35] K. A. Carlson, "Carlson Psychological Survey manual," Port Huron, Michigan: SIGMA Assessment Systems, Inc., 1982.
[36] M. C. Zanarini, et al., "A screening measure for BPD: The McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD)," J. Personal. Disord., vol. 17, pp. 568-573, December 2003.
[37] L. S. Radloff, "The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population," Appl. Psych. Meas., vol. 1, pp. 385-401, June 1977.
[38] A. H. Buss and M. Perry, "The Aggression Questionnaire," J. Pers. Soc. Psychol., vol. 63, pp. 452-459, April 1992.
[39] A. Maden, Treating violence: A guide to risk management in mental health, Oxford: Oxford University Press, March 2007.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Affizal Ahmad, Nurul Hazrina Mazlan. (2013). Identifying types of Mental Health Problems and Aggression among Security Guards: Are they Totally Safe. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 2(3), 130-137. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20130203.18

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Affizal Ahmad; Nurul Hazrina Mazlan. Identifying types of Mental Health Problems and Aggression among Security Guards: Are they Totally Safe. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2013, 2(3), 130-137. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20130203.18

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Affizal Ahmad, Nurul Hazrina Mazlan. Identifying types of Mental Health Problems and Aggression among Security Guards: Are they Totally Safe. Psychol Behav Sci. 2013;2(3):130-137. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20130203.18

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.pbs.20130203.18,
      author = {Affizal Ahmad and Nurul Hazrina Mazlan},
      title = {Identifying types of Mental Health Problems and Aggression among Security Guards: Are they Totally Safe},
      journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {3},
      pages = {130-137},
      doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20130203.18},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20130203.18},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20130203.18},
      abstract = {Security guards give service within several ranges of tasks. In the line of duty in various work settings, guards may be expected to maintain order and to detain criminal violators while appointed to a single property or placed on patrol for various sites or territories. Concisely, a security guard may encounter a variety of situations, locations, and behaviours. With such a heavy responsibility and important duties, it is very important to make sure that the security guards are mentally and behaviourally healthy and safe. Concerning these issues, this study aimed to identify types of mental health problem and aggression among security guards. In addition, association between mental health problems and aggression, and difference between male and female security guards in terms of mental health problems were examined. Self-report surveys were conducted among 300 security guards in data collection. The findings identified four subtypes of mental health problems: substance abuse, antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and depression, experienced by the security guards. The security guards were also reported to be performing physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility. Male and female security guards showed significant difference in occurrence of mental health problems. The association between the mental health problems and aggression were also found mostly significant. Concisely, prevalence of mental health problems and aggressive behaviours was identified among security guards. These findings suggest that people who work as security guards in the presence of mental health problems are not totally safe. The findings recommend a serious need for mental health problems assessment among security guards during the enrolment or whilst performing daily duties in order to ensure healthy and safe employer and the public as whole and safe workplace environment. The findings of this study are crucial for public awareness.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Identifying types of Mental Health Problems and Aggression among Security Guards: Are they Totally Safe
    AU  - Affizal Ahmad
    AU  - Nurul Hazrina Mazlan
    Y1  - 2013/07/20
    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20130203.18
    DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20130203.18
    T2  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
    JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
    JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
    SP  - 130
    EP  - 137
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7845
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20130203.18
    AB  - Security guards give service within several ranges of tasks. In the line of duty in various work settings, guards may be expected to maintain order and to detain criminal violators while appointed to a single property or placed on patrol for various sites or territories. Concisely, a security guard may encounter a variety of situations, locations, and behaviours. With such a heavy responsibility and important duties, it is very important to make sure that the security guards are mentally and behaviourally healthy and safe. Concerning these issues, this study aimed to identify types of mental health problem and aggression among security guards. In addition, association between mental health problems and aggression, and difference between male and female security guards in terms of mental health problems were examined. Self-report surveys were conducted among 300 security guards in data collection. The findings identified four subtypes of mental health problems: substance abuse, antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and depression, experienced by the security guards. The security guards were also reported to be performing physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility. Male and female security guards showed significant difference in occurrence of mental health problems. The association between the mental health problems and aggression were also found mostly significant. Concisely, prevalence of mental health problems and aggressive behaviours was identified among security guards. These findings suggest that people who work as security guards in the presence of mental health problems are not totally safe. The findings recommend a serious need for mental health problems assessment among security guards during the enrolment or whilst performing daily duties in order to ensure healthy and safe employer and the public as whole and safe workplace environment. The findings of this study are crucial for public awareness.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Forensic Sciences Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia

  • Forensic Sciences Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia

  • Sections