The relationship between dispositional mindfulness and PTSD/PTG among firefighters: The mediating role of emotion regulation

Background: Although various studies found that mindfulness and emotion regulation strategies both could be the predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG), no study to date has examined the combined role of dispositional mindfulness and emotion regulation strategies in PTSD and PTG among firefighters. Method: A cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of 409 Chinese firefighters who reported to have experienced critical incidents during their daily work. Participants completed self-report questionnaires. Results: Dispositional mindfulness directly and negatively predicted PTSD and positively predicted PTG. Moreover, the proposed model fit the data well [chi(2)/df = 2.362, NFI = 0.973, IFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.974, CFI = 0.984, RMSEA (90% CI) = 0.058 (0.040-0.076)]. Dispositional mindfulness exerted an indirect and negative effect on PTSD via cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. While dispositional mindfulness showed an indirect and positive effect on PTG through cognitive reappraisal, but not through expressive suppression. Conclusions: Emotion regulation strategies could mediate the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and posttraumatic outcomes in different ways. These findings highlight the beneficial effects of dispositional mindfulness on firefighters' mental health.