WORKPLACE STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG POLICE OFFICERS TO JOB HAZARDS: A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE IN NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE

The policing profession is universally recognised as one of the most stressful occupations due to constant exposure to physical danger, emotional strain, and organizational pressures. Within the Nigerian context, police officers contend with multifaceted job hazards such as inadequate welfare, poor working conditions, and exposure to violence, and public mistrust, all of which intensify workplace stress and threaten occupational well-being. This theoretical paper examines workplace stress and coping strategies among police officers in Nigeria through an integrative lens that combines the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, the Job Demand Control Model, and Conservation of Resources Theory. The paper argues that stress in policing is not merely a psychological response but a product of structural and institutional conditions. It further contends that coping among Nigerian police officers is shaped by both individual resilience and the organisational culture of the police force. The paper develops a conceptual model linking job hazards, workplace stress, coping strategies, and performance outcomes, emphasizing the mediating role of organisational support. The study contributes to theoretical discourse by contextualising occupational stress theory within African policing environments and offers insights for future empirical validation and policy reforms aimed at promoting officers’ mental health and occupational sustainability.