Effects of a Meditation-Based Healing Program on Stress Level, Stress Vulnerability, and Sleep Quality of Fire Officers

Abstract

Fire officers work in a high-risk environment and are exposed to repetitive stressful situations. In this study, an intervention using a meditation-based healing program was applied to examine the effects on stress level, stress vulnerability, and sleep quality. The results showed significant changes in stress level, and its sub-factors, that is, somatization, depression, and failure of self-regulation after the intervention program, but not in stress perception and anxiety. In contrast, significant changes were observed in stress vulnerability but not in its sub-factors: emotion suppression, neuroticism, and perfectionism. Significant changes were observed in sleep quality as well. In conclusion, the meditation -based healing program was effective in reducing stress levels, improving stress vulnerability, and improving sleep quality. Thus, this study suggests that mind subtraction meditation can be used to improve the mental health of fire officers.