Police Officers’ Experiences of a Mindfulness-based Intervention: a Bottom-up Exploration of Perceived Changes and Mechanisms Using Mixed Methods
Machteld Hoeve, Floor van Rooij, Susan M. Bögels, Esther de Bruijn
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology September 11, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s11896-026-09860-z (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed-methods study Preregistered Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 82 |
| Population | Police officers |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) |
| Measures | Goal attainment scaling |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Police officers reported large improvements in personal goals after a mindfulness-based intervention (d = 1.14–1.23) and rated the training 8.2 out of 10, with 90% intending to continue meditating. Participants described reduced stress-related symptoms and improved well-being, and named mechanisms including attention monitoring, acceptance, equanimity, self-compassion, and decentering. The authors argue mindfulness-based interventions are a promising approach to enhancing resilience and managing stress in law enforcement. |
Abstract
Abstract This study investigated the experienced changes in personal goals, well-being and the assumed working mechanisms of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for police officers. Data of three sources were used: goal attainment scaling, an evaluation survey, and interviews. Eighty-two police officers (43.9% male) participated in an effectiveness study of an MBI (Hoeve et al., 2021). Of the original sample, 45 participants completed a goal attainment instrument at baseline, post-test, and follow-up. Sixty police officers completed an evaluation survey and ten were interviewed at post-test. A mixed-methods approach was utilized to evaluate participant experience of change and mechanisms, using linear mixed models to analyze potential changes in personal goals, and qualitative methods to analyze data from the evaluation survey and interviews. Results showed an overall score of 8.2 (out of 10) for the training, and 90% of participants intended to keep meditating after the training. Experienced improvements in personal goals after the training, using linear mixed models, were of large effect sizes ( d = 1.14–1.23). All police officers who were interviewed, as well as those who completed the evaluation survey, experienced a decrease in stress-related symptoms and improvements in well-being, including behavioral, bodily and psychological aspects of well-being. Participants mentioned a variety of mechanisms of change, including attention monitoring, acceptance, putting into perspective, equanimity, self-compassion, and decentering. Participating in MBIs is a promising approach to enhancing resilience and managing the stress that can accompany a career in law enforcement. This study was not preregistered.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 16
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Police Officers’ Stress Reduction: a Systematic Review Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology January 30, 2023
and 11 more in the library