Testing a Path Model of Organizational Justice and Correctional Staff Job Stress Among Southern Correctional Staff

Authors

• Eric G. Lambert, University of Nevada, Reno
• Linda D. Keena, University of Mississippi
• Stacy H. Haynes, Mississippi State University
• David C. May, Mississippi State University
• Rosemary Ricciardelli, Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Matthew Leone, University of Nevada, Reno

ORCID

May: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8275-6773

MSU Affiliation

College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Sociology

Creation Date

2026-06-01

Abstract

Job stress has many negative effects on correctional staff. We proposed and tested a path model of transactional, procedural, and distributive justice’s direct and indirect effects on the job stress of 322 surveyed correctional staff, including 219 correctional officers, at a maximum security Southern prison. Findings indicated that procedural, distributive, and transactional justice affected job stress. Specifically, the proposed path model was supported, such that procedural justice had an indirect effect on job stress through distributive justice, and transactional and distributive justice had direct, negative effects on job stress. Transactional justice also had indirect effects on job stress through procedural and distributive justice. Taken together, the results suggest that organizational justice plays an important role in reducing correctional staff job stress.

Publication Date

4-18-2019

Publication Title

Criminal Justice and Behavior

Publisher

SAGE Publications

First Page

1367

Last Page

1384

Rights

© 2024 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology

Recommended Citation

Lambert, E. G., Keena, L. D., Haynes, S. H., May, D., Ricciardelli, R., & Leone, M. (2019). Testing a Path Model of Organizational Justice and Correctional Staff Job Stress Among Southern Correctional Staff. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 46(10), 1367-1384.