Improvements in Mindfulness Facets Predict Burnout and Sleep Disturbance Outcomes in Law Enforcement Officers
Kaylia Pham, Morgan Penberthy, Olivia Boyd, Michael Christopher
Research Square February 23, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7926560/v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Secondary analysis of intervention data |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 98 |
| Population | Law enforcement officers (LEOs) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training (MBRT) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Registration | NCT02521454 NCT03784846 |
| Key points | Increases in nonjudgment and nonreactivity predicted reductions in sleep disturbances, whereas acting with awareness did not; increases in nonjudgment and acting with awareness predicted reductions in burnout, whereas nonreactivity did not. The authors suggest mindfulness practices emphasizing these facets may help mitigate burnout and sleep disturbances in law enforcement officers. |
Abstract
Abstract Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training (MBRT) was designed to improve LEO mental health and performance, and to enhance resilience in the context of acute and chronic stressors inherent to policing. Prior research has demonstrated preliminary efficacy of MBRT in improving a variety of outcomes, including burnout and sleep disturbance. The primary goal of this study was to conduct a secondary analysis to determine which mindfulness facets accounted for the most variance in reducing burnout and sleep disturbances following participation in MBRT among LEOs ( N = 98). The findings indicate that increases in nonjudgment and nonreactivity were significant predictors of reductions in sleep disturbances, while acting with awareness was not. We also found that increases in nonjudging and acting with awareness were significant predictors of reductions in burnout, while nonreactivity was not. Our findings suggest that integrating mindfulness practices that emphasize nonjudgment, nonreactivity, and acting with awareness may help mitigate burnout and sleep disturbances. Future research should investigate how mindfulness training can be integrated with LEO occupational culture and leadership practices, with an emphasis on strategies that facilitate the effective dissemination and uptake of this intervention. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT02521454; NCT03784846 Dates of registration: August 13, 2015; December 24, 2018
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- A multisite feasibility randomized clinical trial of mindfulness-based resilience training for aggression, stress, and health in law enforcement officers. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies April 4, 2024
- Targeting anxiety to improve sleep disturbance: A randomized clinical trial of app-based mindfulness training Psychosomatic Medicine April 14, 2022
- Mindfulness for Healthcare Providers: The Role of Non-Reactivity in Reducing Stress. Explore November 2018
- Mindfulness-based resilience training to reduce health risk, stress reactivity, and aggression among law enforcement officers: A feasibility and preliminary efficacy trial. Psychiatry Research March 23, 2018
and 2 more in the library