The present study tested a distinctive mediation model of moral injury (MI) and positive affect with burnout via well-being and negative affect. It also examined the moderating effect of positive emotions in the association between MI and well-being and negative affect among police officers. Furthermore, this study provided data about the prevalence of MI and burnout among a sample of police officers.
One hundred eighty-seven active law enforcement officers (84% male; 21–64 years old) completed the online self-report measures. The hypothesised model was estimated in Mplus 8.4, with MI as the predictor, positive affect as moderator, well-being and negative affect as mediators, burnout as the outcome and gender as covariate.
Indirect effects of MI on burnout via well-being and negative affect were significant. Similarly, the indirect effect of positive affect on burnout via well-being was significant. The indirect effect of positive affect on burnout via negative affect was not significant. Positive affect did not moderate the association between MI and well-being or negative affect. Officers showed low to high scores in various subscales of MI and burnout.
This is one of the first studies that examine the impact of MI and positive affect on law enforcement officers’ well-being and burnout and highlights the importance of considering MI in this population.
