BackgroundPrimary health care professionals (PHPs) usually report high levels of distress and burnout symptoms related to job strain. Mindfulness, defined as non-judgmental-present-moment awareness, seems to be a moderator in the causal association between life stressors and well-being. This study aimed to verify correlations among self-reported mindfulness, perceived stress (PS), and subjective well-being (SW) in Brazilian PHPs.MethodsWe performed a correlational cross-sectional study in a purposive sample of Brazilian PHPs (physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, and community health workers), working in community-oriented primary care programs (known locally as “Family Health Programs”). We used validated self-reporting instruments: the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Subjective Well-being Scale (SWS). We performed a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), through regression coefficients (beta) in relation to the professional category (nursing assistant), in addition to the length of time in the same job (under than 6 months) that had indicated the lowest level of PS.ResultsParticipants (n = 450) comprised community health workers (65.8 %), nursing assistants (18 %), registered nurses (10.0 %), and doctors (family physicians) (6.0 %); 94 % were female and 83.1 % had worked in the same position for more than one year. MANOVA regression analysis showed differences across professional categories and length of time in the same job position in relation to mindfulness, PS, and SW. Nurses demonstrated lower levels of mindfulness, higher PS, and SW negative affect, as well as lower SW positive affect. Being at work for 1 year or longer showed a clear association with higher PS and lower SW positive affect, and no significance with mindfulness levels. Pearson’s coefficient values indicated strong negative correlations between mindfulness and PS, and medium correlations between mindfulness and SW.ConclusionIn this study, there were clear correlations between mindfulness, PS, and SW across different primary care professional categories and time in the same job position, suggesting specific vulnerabilities that should be addressed through the development of staff awareness, stress prevention, and well-being interventions.

This study aimed to assess the associations between mental health conditions, individual and job characteristics and sleep disturbances among firefighters. Of 303 participants, 51.2% reported sleep disturbances. Psychological distress and psychosomatic disturbances were significantly associated with sleep disturbances. Suicidal ideation, unhealthy alcohol use and time as a firefighter were also associated with sleep disturbances but at a borderline level of significance (0.05 < p < .085). These findings may be related to the psychological and physical hazards of firefighting and indicate the importance of research on associated professions.

-In order to assess the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the FFMQ, 395 participants divided into smokers, people from the general population, college students, and meditators answered the FFMQ and the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS). An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted and the reliability was assessed. The FFMQ-BR consists of seven factors and all of them showed good internal consistency. Evidence of the construct and criterion validity was obtained by a significant correlation between the FFMQ-BR scores and well-being and by a significant difference between the scores of the meditators and the other participants on the FFMQ-BR. This study may help in providing subsidies to the progress of research in the topic by examining the empirical relationships between Mindfulness and mental health.Keywords: mindfulness, Brazil, FFMQ Evidências de Validade da Versão Brasileira do Questionário das Cinco Facetas de Mindfulness (FFMQ-BR)RESUMO -Com o objetivo de avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da versão brasileira do FFMQ, 395 participantes divididos entre tabagistas, comunidade geral, universitários e meditadores responderam ao FFMQ e à Escala de Bem-Estar Subjetivo (EBES). Foi realizada uma Análise Fatorial Exploratória (AFE) e a avaliação da fidedignidade. O FFMQ-BR foi composto por sete facetas e todas obtiveram valores adequados de consistência interna. Comprovou-se a validade de construto e de critério através da correlação entre os escores do FFMQ-BR e a EBES e da diferença entre os escores dos meditadores e dos demais participantes no FFMQ-BR, respectivamente. Estes resultados podem fornecer subsídios para o avanço das pesquisas nessa área através da avaliação enpírica de relações entre mindfulness e saúde mental.Palavras-chave: Mindfulness, Brasil, FFMQ

Mindfulness is a skill that allows the practitioner to expand an existing space between stimulus and response, so he/she may make more conscious choices which in turn prevents the perpetuation of dysfunctional patterns of behaviors, contributing to the improvement of his/her well-being. The goal of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) in a sample with 395 participants divided into smokers, people from the general population, college students and meditators. They answered the MAAS and the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS). An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to test the factor structure of the MAAS. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability and split half were respectively assessed with Cronbach's α and correlation coeffi cients. Construct validity was examined by correlating the MAAS with psychological well-being. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing the meditators' scores on the MAAS with the scores of other participants. After the exploratory factor analysis, the Brazilian MAAS remained a unidimensional scale. Reliability [α = .83; split half = .67 and test-retest = .80 (p < .001)] and validity measures were adequate, except the criterion validity which was not confi rmed in the mentioned sample. Keywords: Mindfulness, MAAS, psychometry. ResumoMindfulness é uma habilidade que permite ao praticante a ampliação de um espaço existente entre um estímulo e a resposta, podendo o mesmo fazer escolhas mais conscientes e impedindo a perpetuação de padrões de comportamentos disfuncionais, contribuindo para a melhora de seu bem estar. Este estudo objetivou avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da versão brasileira da Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Participaram deste estudo 395 pessoas, divididos entre fumantes, comunidade geral, universitários e meditadores. Foi realizada análise fatorial exploratória para testar a estrutura fatorial da MAAS. A consistência interna foi testada através do alfa de Cronbach, além do teste-reteste e do método das metades, avaliados através de correlação. A validade de construto foi avaliada através da correlação entre a Escala de Bem Estar Subjetivo (EBES) e a MAAS. A validade de critério foi avaliada através da comparação dos escores dos meditadores e dos demais participantes na MAAS. Após a análise fatorial exploratória, a MAAS manteve-se uma escala unidimensional. As medidas de confi abilidade [α = 0,83; split half = 0,67 e teste reteste = 0,80 (p < 0,001)] e validade foram satisfatórias, exceto a validade de critério, não confi rmada nesta amostra. Palavras-chave: Atenção plena, consciência plena, MAAS, Psicometria.

Mindfulness appears to induce positive effects on mental health, which might contribute to the maintenance of tobacco abstinence. Despite the promising results regarding the responses of tobacco smokers to mindfulness-based interventions, additional well-designed clinical studies are needed.