Work 54 (2016) 631–637 DOI:10.3233/WOR-162311 IOS Press 631 Exploring resilience and mindfulness as preventative factors for psychological distress burnout and secondary traumatic stress among human service professionals Rachel Harker a , Aileen M. Pidgeon a,* , Frances Klaassen b and Steven King c a Department of Psychology, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia b Mercy Family Services, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia c Mercy Family Services, Brisbane, QLD, Australia Received 23 August 2014 Accepted 7 August 2015 Abstract. BACKGROUND: Human service professionals are concerned with the intervention and empowerment of vulnerable social populations. The human service industry is laden with employment-related stressors and emotionally demanding interactions, which can lead to deleterious effects, such as burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Little attention has been given to developing knowledge of what might enable human service workers to persist and thrive. Cultivating and sustaining resilience can buffer the impact of occupational stressors on human service professionals. One of the psychological factors associated with cultivating resilience is mindfulness. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this current research is to improve our understanding of the relationship between resilience, mindfulness, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and psychological distress among human service professionals. METHODS: The current study surveyed 133 human service professionals working in the fields of psychology, social work, counseling, youth and foster care work to explore the predictive relationship between resilience, mindfulness, and psychological distress. RESULTS: The results showed that higher levels of resilience were a significant predictor of lower levels of psychological distress, burnout and secondary traumatic stress. In addition, higher levels of mindfulness were a significant predictor of lower levels of psychological distress and burnout. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that cultivating resilience and mindfulness in human service professionals may assist in preventing psychological distress burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Limitations of this study are discussed together with implications for future research. Keywords: Work, stress, mental health, healthcare workers * Address for correspondence: Dr. Aileen M Pidgeon, Depart- ment of Psychology, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia. Tel.: +61 07 55952510; E-mail: apidgeon@bond.edu.au. 1. Introduction Human service professionals who work to pro- vide intervention and empower the most vulnerable, distressed, and disadvantaged people are routinely 1051-9815/16/$35.00 © 2016 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved