ROLE OF RESILIENCE IN MINDFULNESS TRAINING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
Joshua Benjamin Kaplan, Aaron L Bergman, Michael Christopher, Sarah Bowen, Matthew Hunsinger
Mindfulness April 19, 2017 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-017-0713-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Secondary analysis of intervention data Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Law enforcement officers and firefighters |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training (MBRT) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Changes in psychological resilience partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and burnout in first responders. Increased mindfulness was related to increased resilience (b = .41), which was related to decreased burnout (b = -.25), with a bootstrapped indirect effect confidence interval that did not contain zero (95% CI [-.27, -.01]), supporting partial mediation. |
Abstract
First responders are exposed to critical incidents and chronic stressors that contribute to a higher prevalence of negative health outcomes compared to other occupations. Psychological resilience, a learnable process of positive adaptation to stress, has been identified as a protective factor against the negative impact of burnout. Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training (MBRT) is a preventive intervention tailored for first responders to reduce negative health outcomes, such as burnout. This study is a secondary analysis of law enforcement and firefighters samples to examine the mechanistic role of psychological resilience on burnout. Results indicated that changes in resilience partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and burnout, and that increased mindfulness was related to increased resilience (b = .41, SE = .11, p < .01), which in turn was related to decreased burnout (b = -.25, SE = .12, p = .03). The bootstrapped confidence interval of the indirect effect did not contain zero [95% CI; -.27, -.01], providing evidence for mediation. Limitations and implications are discussed.
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
Cited by 15
- The Effectiveness of a Neurofeedback-Assisted Mindfulness Training Program Using a Mobile App on Stress Reduction in Employees: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR mHealth and uHealth October 3, 2023
- Protocol: a multi-level intervention program to reduce stress in 9-1-1 telecommunicators BMC Public Health May 2, 2018
- Police Officers’ Experiences of a Mindfulness-based Intervention: a Bottom-up Exploration of Perceived Changes and Mechanisms Using Mixed Methods Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology September 11, 2026
- Resilient Responders: The Impact of a Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training on the Mental, Physical, and Social Health of Law Enforcement Officers Research Square June 17, 2026
- Enhancing Physiological Complexity Through Mindfulness: A Wearable-Based Intervention for First Responders and Their Partners. Healthcare June 1, 2026
and 10 more in the library
Cites 7
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- The Body Scan and Mindful Breathing Among Veterans with PTSD: Type of Intervention Moderates the Relationship Between Changes in Mindfulness and Post-treatment Depression. Mindfulness October 20, 2015
- Changes in spirituality partly explain health-related quality of life outcomes after Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Journal of Behavioral Medicine December 2011
- Mindfulness is associated with fewer PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, and alcohol problems in urban firefighters. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology October 1, 2011
and 2 more in the library