LAUSR

In high-risk professions, e.g., police and military, the combination of high work stress and a male-oriented culture can lead to maladaptive coping strategies and health risks. Especially in these high-risk contexts, where work stress is often unavoidable, knowledge about direct and buffering effects of resources such as mindfulness is important for health promotion. Objective We examined buffering effects of mindfulness on the relationship between job demands and health (ie, strain, complaints, affect, general health) in high-risk professions with high levels of unavoidable stressors. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional and longitudinal data from military (n = 362) and police personnel (n = 359). Results Study 1 showed that mindfulness buffered the effect of job demands at time 1 on strain and negative affect at time 2. Study 2 showed that mindfulness mitigates the relationship between job demands and strain and health complaints. With higher mindfulness, negative effects of job demands were reduced. Additional analyses reveal which facets of mindfulness are mostly important. Conclusions Findings provide evidence for the buffering effects of mindfulness and showed that mindfulness buffers against job demands in work contexts with high levels of stress and risk and a male-oriented culture.