Parallel mediating mechanisms of mindfulness in alleviating perceived stress among special service personnel: dual pathways of psychological resilience and nature connectedness

Special service personnel are constantly exposed to high-stress military operational environments, and their stress levels significantly impact mission effectiveness and physical and mental health. However, the underlying mechanisms of stress formation and regulation remain to be thoroughly elucidated. This study aims to investigate the interactive effects of mindfulness, psychological resilience, and nature connectedness on perceived stress among special service personnel, with a particular focus on the mediating and moderating roles of psychological resilience and nature connectedness in the process by which mindfulness influences stress, in order to reveal the underlying mechanisms and provide evidence for novel stress management strategies in this population.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 471 special agents recuperating at the Lushan Rehabilitation and Recuperation Center from July to October 2024 enrolled by convenience sampling. Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), 10-Item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), and Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS) were used in the questionnaire survey. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed on the questionnaire data, and a parallel mediation model was constructed using the PROCESS 4.1 macro program (Model 4).

After controlling for age and length of service, mindful attention awareness significantly positively predicted psychological resilience (β=0.251, P<0.01, 95%CI: 0.215 to 0.288) and nature connectedness (β=0.142, P<0.01, 95%CI: 0.087 to 0.198). Mindful attention awareness (β =-0.123, P<0.01, 95%CI: -0.181 to -0.066), psychological resilience (β=-0.465, P<0.01, 95%CI: -0.589 to -0.341), and nature connectedness (β=-0.135, P<0.05, 95%CI: -0.217 to -0.053) all significantly negatively predicted perceived stress. The parallel mediation effects of psychological resilience and nature connectedness between mindfulness and perceived stress were significant, with a total mediation effect of -0.136(95%CI: -0.180 to -0.096), accounting for 52.51% of the total effect. Among them, the mediation effect of psychological resilience was-0.117(95%CI: -0.158 to -0.080), accounting for 45.17% of the total effect; the mediation effect of nature connectedness was -0.019(95%CI: -0.037 to -0.006), accounting for 7.34% of the total effect.

Mindfulness not only directly negatively predicts perceived stress among special service personnel but also indirectly negatively predicts it by enhancing psychological resilience and nature connectedness, with both these factors exerting partial parallel mediating roles, and psychological resilience playing a more significant mediating role.