Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training on Healthcare Professionals’ Mental Health: Results from a Pilot Study Testing Its Predictive Validity in a Specialized Hospital Setting

Math Janssen, Beatrice Van der Heijden, Josephine Engels, Hubert Korzilius, Pascale Peters and Yvonne Heerkens
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Math Janssen: Occupation & Health Research Group, HAN University of Applied Sciences, 6525EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Beatrice Van der Heijden: Institute for Management Research, Radboud University, 6525AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Josephine Engels: Occupation & Health Research Group, HAN University of Applied Sciences, 6525EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Hubert Korzilius: Institute for Management Research, Radboud University, 6525AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Pascale Peters: Institute for Management Research, Radboud University, 6525AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Yvonne Heerkens: Occupation & Health Research Group, HAN University of Applied Sciences, 6525EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-14

Abstract: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training and to examine positive and negative symptom-focused mental health variables. The mental health variables were used to test the predictive validity of the training among healthcare professionals. Thirty healthcare professionals participated in this non-randomized pre-post intervention pilot study. The questionnaire on mental health was filled in twice. Baseline and post-intervention differences were tested with paired samples t -tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. The participants’ evaluation of the training was assessed with a five-item questionnaire. The recruitment and retention were successful, and participants’ evaluation of the training itself was positive but the influence on daily life was rated only moderately positive. In comparison with baseline at post-intervention participants showed significant improvements in general mindfulness, the burnout dimension personal accomplishment, quality of sleep, positive emotions, and self-efficacy. A significant decrease was found in the burnout dimension emotional exhaustion, stress level, negative emotions at work, and worrying. No significant changes were found for the burnout dimension mental distance, and work engagement. The measures showed ample within-person differences and low, medium, or high effect sizes. The current trial approach of the MBSR training seems feasible and acceptable. Our results suggest that mindfulness, burnout, stress level, quality of sleep, positive emotions at work, negative emotions at work, self-efficacy, and worrying are meaningful mental health variables for inclusion in a larger-scale Randomized Controlled Trial on the effects of MBSR.

Keywords: mindfulness; mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR); mental health variables (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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