The Relation Between Mindfulness and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Police Officers

Abstract 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. KEYWORDS: mindfulnesslaw enforcementpoliceposttraumatic stressPTSDtrauma Notes Note. IES-R = Impact of Event Scale-Revised; KIMS = Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills. Note. IES-R = Impact of Event Scale-Revised, KIMS = Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills. *p < .05; **p < .01. Additional informationNotes on contributorsBrian A. Chopko Brian A. Chopko is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at Kent State University at Stark. He received his PhD in counselor education from the University of Akron, is a deputy sheriff (special commission), and specializes in mental health issues related to the criminal justice system. Robert C. Schwartz Robert C. Schwartz is a professor of counselor education and director of the Clinic for Individual and Family Counseling at the University of Akron. He received his PhD in counselor education from the University of Florida and currently specializes in mindfulness, diagnosis of mental disorders, and countertransference.