Exploring critical incidents and post-traumatic stress among UK prison officers

Prison staff face regular exposure to potentially traumatic events, yet research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among UK prison officers has remained limited. A mixed-methods design comprising an online survey (study one) and semi-structured interviews (study two) explored traumatic stress within this population. The survey measured PTSD symptomology among 447 participants, and associations with demographic factors, critical incident exposure, individual and work environment factors. Semi-structured interviews with 19 participants supplemented survey data and provided in-depth perspectives of critical incident exposure and workplace culture.Results indicated that 51.7% of participants reported clinically significant PTSD symptoms. Increased critical incident exposure and greater workplace frustration contributed to higher symptomology. Interviews highlighted a culture of emotional suppression and a need for more accessible support.Findings highlight the need for interventions addressing individual and workplace factors to support prison officer wellbeing, and for further research into reducing the risk of PTSD in this population.