Protecting Judges, Protecting the Law: How Gender, Social Support, and Identity relate to Judicial Stress

Katie M.  Snider; Paul G.  Devereux; Monica K.  Miller; Charles P.  Edwards

doi:10.6000/2817-2302.2026.05.01

Authors

Katie M. Snider Interdisciplinary Social Psychology PhD Program, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
Paul G. Devereux Public Health and Core Faculty for the Interdisciplinary Social Psychology PhD Program, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
Monica K. Miller Sociology Department and Interdisciplinary Social Psychology PhD Program, University of Nevada, Reno, US
Charles P. Edwards Interdisciplinary Social Psychology PhD Program, University of Nevada, Reno, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/2817-2302.2026.05.01

Keywords:

Judicial stress, health, society, social support, social identity, Model of Judicial Stress

Abstract

Judges’ wellbeing can affect society as a whole. The Model of Judicial Stress (MJS) proposed relationships between multiple personal and social factors, workplace stress, and a variety of negative personal and professional outcomes that can result from high stress. Prior studies have found gender differences in stress among judges, as well as stress buffering effects from personal social support networks. In this study, we examined 76 judges’ self-reported levels of three types of stress and considered the potential benefits of social support from workplace networks – in addition to personal networks – as a separate buffer for stress. In addition, we tested relationships between stress and social identity, and stress and stress-intervention preferences. Consistent with previous research, this study found gender differences for the different stress measures: burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and general stress. Further, workplace social support was negatively related to burnout when controlling for the effects of gender, time on the bench, and nonworkplace social support. Judges who placed higher importance on their “judge” identity reported higher levels of stress when they had lower social support from personal networks. Finally, stress mediated the relationship between social support and job satisfaction. Addressing judicial stress can promote wellness in judges and society in general.

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