Abstract

We examined the role of perceived risk of violence and mortal danger on work stress, and the role of work stress on job performance. Relying on theory on work stress, risk analysis, and death awareness, we compared the experience of people who have and have not experienced a critical job injury. We also examined the role of job satisfaction and intention to quit as mediating mechanisms in these relationships. We used a sample of Mexican border-city police officers, taking into account the occupational and national context: a setting where workers face life-threatening risks, and a culture that relies on courage and toughness as resources to cope with job demands. The results showed that officers who had been injured reported higher job-related violence risks and work stress. Further, the results showed a complex stress-performance relationship that was present only for officers who had suffered a job injury. Work stress had a positive direct association with job performance, as well as a negative association with job performance that was mediated by withdrawal intentions. We discuss implications for the role of critical job injuries on stress and behavior, and for the relationship between work stress and performance in dangerous occupations.