Mental health and mindfulness amongst Australian fire fighters
Abstract Background While extensive research has highlighted the positive mental health outcomes associated with mindfulness, little work has examined how mindfulness may protect the mental health of first responders exposed to trauma. This is important as there is increasing evidence that mindfulne...
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doaj-137703b62c2b4bd59236433c57148a882020-11-25T03:16:56ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832019-06-01711910.1186/s40359-019-0311-2Mental health and mindfulness amongst Australian fire fightersIsabelle Counson0Dominic Hosemans1Tara J. Lal2Brendan Mott3Samuel B. Harvey4Sadhbh Joyce5Black Dog InstituteFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health sciences, Monash UniversityFire and Rescue New South WalesFire and Rescue New South WalesBlack Dog InstituteBlack Dog InstituteAbstract Background While extensive research has highlighted the positive mental health outcomes associated with mindfulness, little work has examined how mindfulness may protect the mental health of first responders exposed to trauma. This is important as there is increasing evidence that mindfulness skills, if protective, can be taught to groups of at-risk workers. The purpose of the current research was to examine the potential role mindfulness may have in supporting the mental health of Australian fire fighters. Methods The sample consisted of 114 professional fire fighters who completed demographic and job-related questions followed by measures of mindfulness (FMI-14), well-being (WHO-5), depression (HADS-D) and anxiety (HADS-A). Hierarchical multiple linear regressions were performed to determine whether levels of mindfulness were associated with anxiety, depression and wellbeing after accounting for age and number of years of fire service. Results High levels of mindfulness were associated with decreased depression (p ≤ .001) and anxiety (p ≤ .001) as well as increased psychological well-being (p ≤ .001). Measures of mindfulness were able to explain a substantial amount of the variability in well-being (26.8%), anxiety (23.6%) and depression (22.4%), regardless of age and years of fire service. Conclusions The present study provides evidence for robust associations between dispositional mindfulness and mental health markers of depression, anxiety and well-being in Australian fire fighters recently exposed to trauma. Mindfulness is a psychological characteristic that may be able to be modified, although further research is required to substantiate these findings and to formally test mindfulness interventions. Such studies would allow greater insight into the underlying mechanisms through which mindfulness may exert its beneficial effects.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40359-019-0311-2MindfulnessMental healthFire fightersAnxietyWell-beingDepression |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Isabelle Counson Dominic Hosemans Tara J. Lal Brendan Mott Samuel B. Harvey Sadhbh Joyce |
spellingShingle |
Isabelle Counson Dominic Hosemans Tara J. Lal Brendan Mott Samuel B. Harvey Sadhbh Joyce Mental health and mindfulness amongst Australian fire fighters BMC Psychology Mindfulness Mental health Fire fighters Anxiety Well-being Depression |
author_facet |
Isabelle Counson Dominic Hosemans Tara J. Lal Brendan Mott Samuel B. Harvey Sadhbh Joyce |
author_sort |
Isabelle Counson |
title |
Mental health and mindfulness amongst Australian fire fighters |
title_short |
Mental health and mindfulness amongst Australian fire fighters |
title_full |
Mental health and mindfulness amongst Australian fire fighters |
title_fullStr |
Mental health and mindfulness amongst Australian fire fighters |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mental health and mindfulness amongst Australian fire fighters |
title_sort |
mental health and mindfulness amongst australian fire fighters |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Psychology |
issn |
2050-7283 |
publishDate |
2019-06-01 |
description |
Abstract Background While extensive research has highlighted the positive mental health outcomes associated with mindfulness, little work has examined how mindfulness may protect the mental health of first responders exposed to trauma. This is important as there is increasing evidence that mindfulness skills, if protective, can be taught to groups of at-risk workers. The purpose of the current research was to examine the potential role mindfulness may have in supporting the mental health of Australian fire fighters. Methods The sample consisted of 114 professional fire fighters who completed demographic and job-related questions followed by measures of mindfulness (FMI-14), well-being (WHO-5), depression (HADS-D) and anxiety (HADS-A). Hierarchical multiple linear regressions were performed to determine whether levels of mindfulness were associated with anxiety, depression and wellbeing after accounting for age and number of years of fire service. Results High levels of mindfulness were associated with decreased depression (p ≤ .001) and anxiety (p ≤ .001) as well as increased psychological well-being (p ≤ .001). Measures of mindfulness were able to explain a substantial amount of the variability in well-being (26.8%), anxiety (23.6%) and depression (22.4%), regardless of age and years of fire service. Conclusions The present study provides evidence for robust associations between dispositional mindfulness and mental health markers of depression, anxiety and well-being in Australian fire fighters recently exposed to trauma. Mindfulness is a psychological characteristic that may be able to be modified, although further research is required to substantiate these findings and to formally test mindfulness interventions. Such studies would allow greater insight into the underlying mechanisms through which mindfulness may exert its beneficial effects. |
topic |
Mindfulness Mental health Fire fighters Anxiety Well-being Depression |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40359-019-0311-2 |
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