Cited by 101Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsResilience and Mental HealthStress and Burnout Research

Resilience@Work Mindfulness Program: Results From a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial With First Responders

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Joyce, Sadhbh, Shand, Fiona, Lal, Tara J, Mott, Brendan, Bryant, Richard A, Harvey, Samuel B·2019·Journal of Medical Internet Research

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: A growing body of research suggests that resilience training can play a pivotal role in creating mentally healthy workplaces, particularly with regard to protecting the long-term well-being of workers. Emerging research describes positive outcomes from various types of resilience training programs (RTPs) among different occupational groups. One specific group of workers that may benefit from this form of proactive resilience training is first responders. Given the nature of their work, first responders are frequently exposed to stressful circumstances and potentially traumatic events, which may impact their overall resilience and well-being over time. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether a mindfulness-based RTP (the Resilience@Work [RAW] Mindfulness Program) delivered via the internet can effectively enhance resilience among a group of high-risk workers. METHODS: We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) comprising 24 Primary Fire and Rescue and Hazmat stations within New South Wales. Overall, 12 stations were assigned to the 6-session RAW Mindfulness Program and 12 stations were assigned to the control condition. A total of 143 active full-time firefighters enrolled in the study. Questionnaires were administered at baseline, immediately post training, and at 6-month follow-up. Measurements examined change in both adaptive and bounce-back resilience as well as several secondary outcomes examining resilience resources and acceptance and mindfulness skills. RESULTS: Mixed-model repeated measures analysis found that the overall test of group-by-time interaction was significant (P=.008), with the intervention group increasing in adaptive resilience over time. However, no significant differences were found between the intervention group and the control group in terms of change in bounce-back resilience (P=.09). At 6-month follow-up, the group receiving the RAW intervention had an average increase in their resilience score of 1.3, equating to a moderate-to-large effect size compared with the control group of 0.73 (95% CI 0.38-1.06). Per-protocol analysis found that compared with the control group, the greatest improvements in adaptive resilience were observed among those who completed most of the RAW program, that is, 5 to 6 sessions (P=.002). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this RCT suggest that mindfulness-based resilience training delivered in an internet format can create improvements in adaptive resilience and related resources among high-risk workers, such as first responders. Despite a number of limitations, the results of this study suggest that the RAW Mindfulness Program is an effective, scalable, and practical means of delivering online resilience training in high-risk workplace settings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a mindfulness-based RTP delivered entirely via the internet has been tested in the workplace. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000574549; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=368296 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/75w4xtrpw).

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  • Resilience training and interventions, primarily those focused on coping skills and self-efficacy, can support a decrease in psychological distress and symptoms of PTSD.

    “Evidence illustrates that resilience training and interventions, primarily those focused on coping skills and self-efficacy, can work to support a decrease in psychological distress and symptoms of PTSD [13-16].”

    From Efficacy, Effectiveness, and Quality of Resilience-Building Mobile Health Apps for Military, Veteran, and Public Safety Personnel Populations: Scoping Literature Review and App Evaluation (2022) · cites this paper as [15]

    The Results (Secondary Outcomes; page not available) report a sustained improvement in active coping after resilience training. But the study measured resilience rather than reductions in psychological distress or PTSD symptoms, and the Discussion (Principal Findings; page not available) describes PTSD symptoms only in relation to a separate study of baseline resilience. The cited paper also does not identify self-efficacy as a primary focus of its intervention. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Mindarma was utilized as part of a mindfulness program for first responders.

    “It was noted that Mindarma was utilized as a part of a mindfulness program for first responders. [15]”

    From Efficacy, Effectiveness, and Quality of Resilience-Building Mobile Health Apps for Military, Veteran, and Public Safety Personnel Populations: Scoping Literature Review and App Evaluation (2022) · cites this paper as [15]

    The Methods section (Intervention: Resilience@Work Mindfulness Program; page unavailable) says firefighters received an online mindfulness program, supporting the first-responder setting. It identifies the intervention as the RAW Mindfulness Program, however, and our copy does not say that Mindarma was used as part of it (searched: Mindarma and the program’s delivery). (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [21]Wild J University of Oxford 2016 05 7 2019-01-27 An evaluation of Mind's resilence intervention for emergency workers https://www.mind.org.uk/media/4627959/strand-3.pdf
  2. [39]Sood A Prasad K Schroeder D Varkey P Stress management and resilience training among department of medicine faculty: a pilot randomized clinical trial J Gen Intern Med 2011 08 26 8 858 61 10.1007/s11606-011-1640-x 21279454 21279454 PMC3138987 · DOI · Paper page
  3. [46]Harvey SB Milligan-Saville JS Paterson HM Harkness EL Marsh AM Dobson M Kemp R Bryant RA The mental health of fire-fighters: an examination of the impact of repeated trauma exposure Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2016 07 50 7 649 58 10.1177/0004867415615217 26607303 0004867415615217 26607303 · DOI

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Authors
Joyce, S., Shand, F., Lal, T. J., Mott, B., Bryant, R. A., & Harvey, S. B.
Affiliations
  • Black Dog Institute (AU)
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
Corresponding author
Joyce, Sadhbh
Venue
Journal of Medical Internet Research
Published
2019-02-19
Volume
21
Issue
2
Pages
e12894
ISSN
1438-8871 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2908740434
Cited by
101
References
74
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 1
FWCI
15.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Journal of Medical Internet Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RUNE (Research UNE) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • UNSWorks (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Australian Government
  • icare Foundation
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
Keywords
resilience training, mindfulness-based interventions, first responders, firefighters, adaptive resilience, online intervention, occupational stress, employee well-being, high-risk workers, resilience resources, fire and rescue services, trauma exposure
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Prospective Studies, Emergency Responders, Mindfulness

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