Mindfulness in Motion Targeted to Sustaining the Mental and Physical Resilience of First Responders
Mindfulness in Motion Targeted to Sustaining the Mental and Physical Resilience of First Responders
High levels of chronic and recurrent workplace stress can profoundly impact the physical, mental, and emotional health of first responders. A multi-modal evidence-based mindfulness intervention was delivered to cohorts of first responders to evaluate effects on perceived stress, resilience, work engagement, and musculoskeletal pain.
The occupational stress experienced by first responders can result in decreased quality and safety of patient care, increased risk of first responder injury, and decreased organizational performance. Worksite mindfulness interventions have been shown to support decreases in occupational stress, as well as improved resilience and work engagement for other high stress professions. Mindfulness in Motion (MIM), an evidence-based mindfulness intervention, was adapted to target the specific occupational needs of first responders in a format that could be easily integrated into their workdays. Three cohorts of first responders received eight weekly synchronous mindfulness sessions with full access to the companion smartphone MIM app for six months after the core eight-week sessions were completed. Adaptations to the MIM content and experiential practices were informed by first responder feedback prior to the study. Self-report surveys to assess perceived stress, resilience, work engagement, and musculoskeletal pain were completed by first responder participants before participation in the intervention, at the end of the eight week intervention, and again six months after the intervention was completed.
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