Mindfulness-based resilience training to reduce health risk, stress reactivity, and aggression among law enforcement officers: A feasibility and preliminary efficacy trial.
Author: Christopher MS1, Hunsinger M2, Goerling LRJ3, Bowen S2, Rogers BS4, Gross CR5, Dapolonia E2, Pruessner JC6
Affiliation:
1School of Graduate Psychology, Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR, USA. Electronic address: mchristopher@pacifcu.edu.
2School of Graduate Psychology, Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR, USA.
3School of Graduate Psychology, Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR, USA; Mindful Badge Initiative, Hillsboro, OR, USA.
4School of Graduate Psychology, Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR, USA; Stress Reduction Clinic, Hillsboro, OR, USA.
5College of Pharmacy and School of Nursing, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
6Departments of Psychology, Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Douglas Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Conference/Journal: Psychiatry Res.
Date published: 2018 Mar 23
Other:
Volume ID: 264 , Pages: 104-115 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.059. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 182
The primary objective of this study was to assess feasibility and gather preliminary outcome data on Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training (MBRT) for law enforcement officers. Participants (n = 61) were randomized to either an 8-week MBRT course or a no intervention control group. Self-report and physiological data were collected at baseline, post-training, and three months following intervention completion. Attendance, adherence, post-training participant feedback, and interventionist fidelity to protocol all demonstrated feasibility of MBRT for law enforcement officers. Compared to no intervention controls, MBRT participants experienced greater reductions in salivary cortisol, self-reported aggression, organizational stress, burnout, sleep disturbance, and reported increases in psychological flexibility and non-reactivity at post-training; however, group differences were not maintained at three-month follow-up. This initial randomized trial suggests MBRT is a feasible intervention. Outcome data suggest MBRT targets key physiological, psychological, and health risk factors in law enforcement officers, consistent with the potential to improve officer health and public safety. However, follow-up training or "booster" sessions may be needed to maintain training gains. A fully powered longitudinal randomized trial is warranted.
KEYWORDS: Aggression; Cortisol; Mindfulness; Police; Resilience; Stress
PMID: 29627695 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.059
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