Dataset Information

Mental health and mindfulness amongst Australian fire fighters.

ABSTRACT:

Background

While extensive research has highlighted the positive mental health outcomes associated with mindfulness, little work has examined how mindfulness may protect the mental health of first responders exposed to trauma. This is important as there is increasing evidence that mindfulness skills, if protective, can be taught to groups of at-risk workers. The purpose of the current research was to examine the potential role mindfulness may have in supporting the mental health of Australian fire fighters.

Methods

The sample consisted of 114 professional fire fighters who completed demographic and job-related questions followed by measures of mindfulness (FMI-14), well-being (WHO-5), depression (HADS-D) and anxiety (HADS-A). Hierarchical multiple linear regressions were performed to determine whether levels of mindfulness were associated with anxiety, depression and wellbeing after accounting for age and number of years of fire service.

Results

High levels of mindfulness were associated with decreased depression (p ≤ .001) and anxiety (p ≤ .001) as well as increased psychological well-being (p ≤ .001). Measures of mindfulness were able to explain a substantial amount of the variability in well-being (26.8%), anxiety (23.6%) and depression (22.4%), regardless of age and years of fire service.

Conclusions

The present study provides evidence for robust associations between dispositional mindfulness and mental health markers of depression, anxiety and well-being in Australian fire fighters recently exposed to trauma. Mindfulness is a psychological characteristic that may be able to be modified, although further research is required to substantiate these findings and to formally test mindfulness interventions. Such studies would allow greater insight into the underlying mechanisms through which mindfulness may exert its beneficial effects.

SUBMITTER: Counson I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6570940 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundMyocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in fire fighters and has been linked with exposure to air pollution and fire suppression duties. We therefore investigated the effects of wood smoke exposure on vascular vasomotor and fibrinolytic function, and thrombus formation in healthy fire fighters.MethodsIn a double-blind randomized cross-over study, 16 healthy male fire fighters were exposed to wood smoke (~1 mg/m³ particulate matter concentration) or filtered air for one hour during intermittent exercise. Arterial pressure and stiffness were measured before and immediately after exposure, and forearm blood flow was measured during intra-brachial infusion of endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilators 4-6 hours after exposure. Thrombus formation was assessed using the ex vivo Badimon chamber at 2 hours, and platelet activation was measured using flow cytometry for up to 24 hours after the exposure.ResultsCompared to filtered air, exposure to wood smoke increased blood carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations (1.3% versus 0.8%; P < 0.001), but had no effect on arterial pressure, augmentation index or pulse wave velocity (P > 0.05 for all). Whilst there was a dose-dependent increase in forearm blood flow with each vasodilator (P < 0.01 for all), there were no differences in blood flow responses to acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside or verapamil between exposures (P > 0.05 for all). Following exposure to wood smoke, vasodilatation to bradykinin increased (P = 0.003), but there was no effect on bradykinin-induced tissue-plasminogen activator release, thrombus area or markers of platelet activation (P > 0.05 for all).ConclusionsWood smoke exposure does not impair vascular vasomotor or fibrinolytic function, or increase thrombus formation in fire fighters. Acute cardiovascular events following fire suppression may be precipitated by exposure to other air pollutants or through other mechanisms, such as strenuous physical exertion and dehydration.

Project description:Abstract Objectives While it is known that specific components of diet namely fiber, fatty acids, or polyphenols can modulate the gut microbiota, literature describing the influence of a specific dietary pattern such as the Mediterranean Diet (MD) on enteric microbiota especially in relation to health are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a MD intervention and the adherence to MD influences the gut fecal microbial composition in firefighters participating in Feeding America's Bravest, a randomized control trial. Methods Participants were firefighters who received a MD Nutritional Intervention (n = 22) or standard dietary advice (n = 24) as part of a cluster-randomized, controlled trial for 12 months. A lifestyle and food frequency questionnaire was administered and adherence scores to the MD were calculated (PREDIMED and Modified MD Score). Bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing was performed from fecal samples, and the microbial composition was analyzed with a bioinformatics pipeline implemented using QIIME 2. R software was used for linear modeling. Results The predominant bacteria phyla in both groups were Firmicutes (52.9%), Bacteroidetes (39.8%), Proteobacteria (3.5%), and Actinobacteria (2.0%). A significant increase in the genus Prevotella was found in those in the intervention group (1.45 log-fold, P = 0.018) compared to controls. Furthermore, linear modeling revealed that higher adherence to MD was associated with lower abundance of Lachnospiriceae UCG-010 (R2 = 0.205, P < 0.001) and Eubacterium ventriosum group (R2 = 0.101, P = 0.016). There were no significant differences in alpha or beta diversity between the control and intervention group. Conclusions A MD intervention as well as higher adherence influence gut microbiota composition; specifically, Prevotella, a genus previously associated with plant-rich diets, was significantly higher in the intervention group. Additionally, higher adherence to MD was associated with multiple genera of bacteria previously involved in SCFA production, which may help elucidate the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean Diet. Funding Sources Grant support: EMW-2014-FP-00612, US Department of Homeland Security and Ohio University Startup funds. Trial Registration Number: NCT02941757

Project description:BackgroundMental illnesses are the leading cause of disability in young people, and lifestyle interventions in young people at risk of mental illness remain a priority. Opportunities to improve nutrition and physical activity among young people through youth mental health services remain unclear. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and behaviors towards nutrition and physical activity, the barriers and enablers to improving behaviors, and the preferred providers and sources of information for nutrition and physical activity among a sample of young people attending a youth mental health service.MethodsA mixed-method study was conducted in regional Tasmania, Australia in a sample of young people (15-25 years) attending a youth mental health service (headspace). A quantitative survey (n = 48) determined young people's nutrition and physical activity knowledge, behaviors, barriers and enablers to achieving recommendations, and their preferred providers and sources of information. Structured interviews and a focus group further explored these concepts (n = 8), including the role of the mental health service as a provider of this support.ResultsThe majority of participants did not meet national recommendations for nutrition and physical activity, despite possessing a high level of knowledge regarding their importance for mental health. Improving mental health was a common enabling factor for participants choosing to alter diet and physical activity habits, but also the leading barrier for participating in physical activity. Young people wanted to receive information from reputable health providers, ideally through social media sources. headspace was seen as an important potential provider of this information.ConclusionsOur results indicate that there is a clear need to improve diet and physical activity habits to enhance mental and physical health outcomes in this at-risk group, and youth mental health services could provide further interventions to support their clients. Specialized staff (e.g. dietitians and exercise physiologists) may provide additional benefits alongside existing mental health care support.