DOI: 10.3886/icpsr39132
title: Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Correctional Officers: A Biopsychosocial Approach, Kentucky, 2018-2020
title: Archival Version

description: The goal of the study was to explore whether a mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR) was effective in reducing multiple measures of stress including biological, psychological, and sociological measures. This study includes correctional officers from 7 adult correctional institutions in Kentucky. All data were collected in person between 2018 and 2020. Data includes measures of biological stress, psychological measures such as perceived stress, mental health measures such as PHQ-9 and PCL-5, job outcomes including Maslach's job burnout, and stressors including violent and traumatic events experienced while on the job.
description: The purpose of this study is an attempt to identify an effective program at reducing the negative physical and mental effects of working in prisons, where violence and trauma are experienced at higher levels than other occupations. This study examines whether a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program is effective at reducing biological, psychological, and sociological measures of stress.
description: Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. Both groups completed surveys that included questions regarding corrections work experience, family background, perceptions of the work environment, violent/traumatic experiences while at work and away from work, and assessments that measure the participants' levels of post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Some surveys and instruments were completed two to three times over a period of six months. Finally, at two different points in time, the research team collected participants' saliva samples in order to measure biomarkers of stress. Participants in the experimental group participated in eight two-hour sessions of a MBSR program, whereas those in the control group were given the option to participate in the MBSR program after all data were collected.
description: The Main Correctional Officer Data include demographic information, corrections work experience, family background, perceptions of the work environment, violent/traumatic experiences while at work and away from work, post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms. These data include baseline, post-intervention, and four-month follow-up results.
The Biological Correctional Officer Data include BMI and results of saliva samples.
The Medical Correctional Officer Data contain demographic information, medical conditions, medications, health habits, sleep, dental health, and alcohol and tobacco use.
description: Presence of Common Scales: Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Post-traumatic Checklist (PCL-5), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) for job burnout, Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Maladaptive Schema Scale (MSS), Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).
description: Datasets: 
DS0: Study-Level Files
DS1: Main Correctional Officer Data
DS2: Biological Correctional Officer Data
DS3: Medical Correctional Officer Data
description: Correctional officers (custody staff) working in adult prisons in Kentucky.
description: on-site questionnaire