This study is a secondary analysis of data collected in an earlier clinical trial of mindfulness-based resilience training (MBRT) (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number 02521454), where the MBRT condition demonstrated a significant reduction in self-reported burnout and trend-level reductions in alcohol use in law enforcement officers (LEOs). Given that MBRT is not designed to be a substance use intervention and does not contain explicit substance-related content, this study sought to clarify these findings by exploring whether improved burnout mediates reduced alcohol use.
Method:
Participants (n = 61) were sworn LEOs (89% male, 85% White, 8% Hispanic/Latinx) recruited from departments in a large urban metro area of the northwestern United States, and were randomized to either MBRT (n = 31) or no intervention control group (n = 30) during the trial.
Results:
MBRT group assignment predicted reduced burnout (b = 0.43, standard error [SE] = 0.14, p = 0.004), which subsequently predicted reduced alcohol use (b = 1.69, SE = 0.81, p = 0.045). Results suggest that reduced alcohol use was indirectly related to a reduction in burnout post-MBRT.
Conclusion:
Given that MBRT does not explicitly address substance use, these findings were interpreted to suggest that officers in the training acquired a new set of coping skills to deal with the operational and organizational stressors of police work.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
StanleyIH, HomMA, JoinerTE. A systematic review of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics. Clin Psychol Rev, 2016;(44):25–44.
2.
JacobssonA, Backteman-ErlansonS, BrulinC, et al.Experiences of critical incidents among female and male firefighters. Int Emerg Nurs, 2015; 23:100–104.
3.
AnshelMH.A conceptual model and implications for coping with stressful events in police work. Crim Justice Behav, 2000; 27:375–400.
4.
FullertonCS, UrsanoRJ, WangL. Acute stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression in disaster or rescue workers. Am J Psychiatry, 2004; 161:1370–1376.
5.
De la Fuente SolanaEI, ExtremeraRA, PecinoCV, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of burnout syndrome among Spanish police officers. Psicothema, 2013; 25; 488–493.
6.
SchaibleLM, SixM. Emotional strategies of police and their varying consequences for burnout. Police Q, 2016; 19;3–31.
7.
MaslachC, JacksonSE. The measurement of experienced burnout. J Organ Behav, 1981; 2:99–113.
8.
PrinzP, HertrichK, HirschfelderU, et al.Burnout, depression and depersonalization—Psychological factors and coping strategies in dental and medical students. GMS Z Med Ausbild, 2012; 29:Doc10.
9.
RajaratnamSW, BargerLK, LockleySW, et al.Sleep disorders, health, and safety in police officers. JAMA, 2011; 306:2567–2578.
10.
KligyteV, ConnellyS, ThielC, et al.The influence of anger, fear, and emotion regulation on ethical decision making. Human Perform, 2013; 26:297–326.
11.
ArslanC.An investigation of anger and anger expression in terms of coping with stress and interpersonal problem-solving. Educ Sci Theory Pract, 2010; 10:25–43.
12.
SterudT, HemE, EkebergO, et al.Occupational stress and alcohol use: A study of two nationwide samples of operational police and ambulance personnel in Norway. J Stud Alcohol Drugs, 2007; 68:896–904.
13.
BallengerJF, BestSR, MetzlerTJ, et al.Patterns and predictors of alcohol use in male and female urban police officers. Am J Addict, 2011; 20:21–29.
14.
KirschmanE. I Love a Cop: What Every Family Needs to Know. Guilford Press, New York; 2006.
15.
WeirH, StewartDM, MorrisRG. Problematic alcohol consumption by police officers and other protective service employees: A comparative analysis. J Crim Justice, 2012; 40:72–82.
16.
ZavalaE, CurryTR. The role of religious coping on problematic alcohol consumption by police officers. Police Pract Res, 2018; 19:31–45.
17.
KohanA, O'ConnorBP. Police officer job satisfaction in relation to mood, well-being, and alcohol consumption. J Psychol, 2002; 136:307–318.
18.
ChopkoBA, PalmieriPA, AdamsRE. Critical incident history questionnaire replication: Frequency and severity of trauma exposure among officers from small and midsize police agencies. J Trauma Stress, 2015; 28:157–161.
19.
MénardKS, ArterLM. Police officer alcohol use and trauma symptoms: Associations with critical incidents, coping, and social stressors. Int J Stress Manag, 2013; 20:37–56.
20.
ViolantiJM, SlavenJE, CharlesLE, et al.Police and alcohol use: A descriptive analysis and associations with stress outcomes. Am J Crim Justice, 2011; 36:344–356.
21.
KopN, EuwemaM, SchaufeliW. Burnout, job stress and violent behaviour among Dutch police officers. Work Stress, 1999; 13:326–340.
22.
AguayoR, VargasC, CanadasGR, et al.Are socio-demographic factors associated to burnout syndrome in police officers? A correlational meta-analysis. An Psicol, 2017; 33:383–392.
23.
MaslachC, LeiterMP. Early predictors of job burnout and engagement. J Appl Psychol, 2008; 93:498–512.
24.
BergAM., HemE, LauB.Suicidal ideation and attempts in Norwegian police. Suicide Life Threat Behav, 2003; 33:302–312.
25.
SackRE. Rethinking use of force: A correlational study of burnout and aggression in patrol officers. PhD dissertation. Alliant International University; 2009.
26.
OreskovichMR, ShanafeltT, DyrbyeLN, et al.The prevalence of substance use disorders in American physicians. Am J Addict, 2015; 24:30–38.
27.
PatelR, HuggardP, van ToledoA. Occupational stress and burnout among surgeons in Fiji. Front Public Health, 2017; 5:41.
28.
CunradiCB, GreinerBA, RaglandDR, et al.Burnout and alcohol problems among urban transit operators in San Francisco. Addict Behav, 2003; 28:91–109.
29.
CamposDB, SchneiderV, BonaféFS, et al.Burnout Syndrome and alcohol consumption in prison employees. Rev Bras Epidemiol, 2016; 19:205–216.
30.
MoustouI, PanagopoulouE, MontgomeryAJ, et al.Burnout predicts health behaviors in ambulance workers. Open Occup Health Saf J, 2010; 2, DOI: 10.2174/1876216601002010016.
31.
JacksonER, ShanafeltTD, HasanO, et al.Burnout and alcohol abuse/dependence among US medical students. Acad Med, 2016; 91:1251–1256.
32.
ShepherdBR, FritzC, HammerLB, et al.Emotional demands and alcohol use in corrections: A moderated mediation model. J Occup Health Psychol, 2019; 24:438.
33.
PattersonGT, ChungIW, SwanPW. Stress management interventions for police officers and recruits: A meta-analysis. J Exp Criminol, 2014; 10:487–513.
34.
ChristopherMS, GoerlingRJ, RogersBS, et al.A pilot study evaluating the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention on cortisol awakening response and health outcomes among law enforcement officers. J Police Crim Psych, 2015; 31:15–28.
35.
ChristopherMS, HunsingerM, GoerlingLR, et al.Mindfulness-based resilience training to reduce health risk, stress reactivity, and aggression among law enforcement officers: A feasibility and preliminary efficacy trial. Psychiatry Res, 2018; 264:104–115.
36.
GrupeDW, McGeheeC, SmithC, et al.Mindfulness training reduces PTSD symptoms and improves stress-related health outcomes in police officers. J Police Crim Psych, 2019; 36:72–85.
37.
DemeroutiE, BakkerAB, VardakouI, et al.The convergent validity of two burnout instruments: A multitrait-multimethod analysis. Eur J Psychol Assess, 2003; 19:12–23.
38.
GreesonJM, WebberDM, SmoskiJM, et al.Changes in spirituality partly explain health-related quality of life outcomes after mindfulness-based stress reduction. J Behav Med, 2011; 34:508–518.
39.
HayesAF. PROCESS: A versatile computational tool for observed variable mediation, moderation, and conditional process modeling, 2012. http://afhayes.com/public/process2012.pdf Accessed on 12 October 2017.
40.
PreacherKJ, HayesAF. Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behav Res Methods, 2008; 40:879–891.
41.
CooperLM.Motivations for alcohol use among adolescents: Development and validation of a four-factor model. Psychol Assess, 1994; 6:117.
42.
CooperLM, RussellM, GeorgeWH. Coping, expectancies, and alcohol abuse: A test of social learning formulations. J Abnorm Psychol, 1988; 97:218–230.
43.
LechatT, TorresO. Exploring Negative Affect in Entrepreneurial Activity: Effects on Emotional Stress and Contribution to Burnout. In: Emotions and Organizational Governance (Research on Emotion in Organizations, Vol. 12). Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2016.
44.
ZellarsKL, HochwarterWA, PerrewePL, et al.Experiencing job burnout: The roles of positive and negative traits and states. J Appl Soc Psychol, 2004; 34:887–911.
45.
CooperML, FroneMR, RussellM, et al.Drinking to regulate positive and negative emotions: A motivational model of alcohol use. J Pers Soc Psychol, 1995; 69:990.
46.
KrumpalI.Determinants of social desirability bias in sensitive surveys: A literature review. Qual Quant, 2013; 47:2025–2047.
47.
KurtzDL.Controlled burn: The gendering of stress and burnout in modern policing. Feminist Criminol, 2008; 3:216–238.
48.
McCartyWP, GarlandBE. Occupational stress and burnout between male and female police officers. Policing, 2007; 30:672–691.
