Traumatic Incidents at Work, Work-to-Family Conflict, and Depressive Symptoms Among Correctional Supervisors: The Moderating Role of Social Support

This cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the association between the direct and indirect effect of traumatic incident exposure at work on correctional supervisors’ experience of work-to-family conflict and depressive symptoms. The moderating role of coworker and supervisor social support was also examined. 156 correctional supervisors (i.e., lieutenants, captains, counselor supervisors) working in a Northeastern state participated in an online survey designed to assess perceptions of their work environment as well as health and family life. Structural equation modeling was used to conduct mediation and moderation analyses. Inmate assaults on inmates and staff were the most common exposures to work-related trauma among correctional supervisors. Correctional supervisors reported being more affected by traumatic incidents directed to self and/or peers (i.e., inmate assault on self/staff). The effect of traumatic incident exposure directed to inmates was associated with greater depressive symptoms for correctional supervisors [β = .31, p < .05]. The effect of traumatic incident exposure directed to self and/or peers was directly associated with greater work-to-family conflict [β = .26, p < .05]. Work-to-family conflict mediated the association between effect of traumatic incident exposure directed to self and/or peers and depressive symptoms [β = .13 (95% CI .016–.35)]. Social support moderated the association between the effect of traumatic incident exposure at work and depressive symptoms. Findings support the need for interventions addressing the adverse effect of traumatic incident exposure at work on correctional supervisors’ family life and mental health.