Social Support and Satisfaction with Life among Portuguese Prison Officers: The Mediating Effect of Anxiety

Work in the prison system can present a high risk to the mental and physical health of prison officers due to the dangerousness, diversity, and complexity associated with this job. Therefore, knowing that prison officers play a key role in prisons, it is essential to explore variables that help understand the health and well-being of these professionals. Thus, this study aims to explore and describe the relationship between social support, generalized anxiety, and life satisfaction in a sample of 100 Portuguese prison officers. The results showed the existence of a significant positive relationship between social support and life satisfaction. Social support also shows a significant negative relationship, decreasing anxiety. It was also found that increased anxiety significantly contributed to a decrease in the participants’ satisfaction with life. It was also possible to verify the existence of a mediating relationship between social support and satisfaction with life through anxiety. The results are subsequently discussed and translated into implications for research and professional practice.