Law enforcement officers face high stress that harms mental health and can lead to aggression and excessive force. A multi-site, randomized, single-blind clinical feasibility trial tested mindfulness-based resilience training (MBRT) against stress management education and a no-intervention control. The study aimed to refine protocols for a future full-scale trial. Recruitment, retention, and acceptability of MBRT were high, and assessment and intervention protocols were delivered with fidelity. Several physiological and self-report measures showed responsiveness to change. These results prepare for a larger trial testing whether MBRT improves officer health and resilience and reduces aggression and excessive use of force, benefiting communities.
In a cross-sectional analysis of 169 racially minoritized adults aged 18 to 64, self-compassion, resilience, and certain facets of mindfulness (acting with awareness, nonreactivity) predicted lower depression; self-compassion, resilience, and nonreactivity predicted lower anxiety and stress; and only self-compassion predicted greater satisfaction with life. Self-compassion was the only trait that consistently predicted all four psychological outcomes. The findings suggest that self-compassion may be especially important for promoting positive mental health and reducing distress among adults from racially minoritized communities, who face healthcare disparities and underrepresentation in research.