The Relation Between Mindfulness and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Police Officers
Journal of Loss and Trauma
Format:
Journal Article
Publication Date:
Nov 30, 2011
Sources ID:
50121
Visibility:
Public (group default)
Abstract:
(Show)
Mindfulness-based treatments have been identified as potentially effective for reducing posttraumatic stress symptoms; however, the validity of research has been questioned, especially among first responders, due to ill-defined aspects of mindfulness. This study investigated the relationship between various dimensions of mindfulness (utilizing the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills; KIMS) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (utilizing the Impact of Event Scale-Revised; IES-R) among active-duty police officers (N = 183). Multiple regression analyses showed that greater IES-R avoidance and intrusion subscale scores were predicted by lower KIMS accepting without judgment subscale scores. Greater IES-R hyperarousal subscale scores were predicted by lower KIMS accepting without judgment and describing subscale scores. Implications of these findings are discussed.