The Relation Between Mindfulness and Posttraumatic Growth: A Study of First Responders to Trauma-Inducing Incidents

Research on the reactions of first responders (e.g., police officers, fire fighters) to traumatic incidents has largely focused on negative symptoms (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder) rather than aspects promoting mental health. Consistent with the counseling profession’s focus on growth and development, this study investigated the relation between mindfulness (using the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills) and posttraumatic growth (using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory) among 183 police officers. Results of multiple regression analyses showed that effort toward spiritual growth was positively correlated, and accepting events without judgment was negatively correlated, with posttraumatic growth. Implications for mental health counseling are discussed.