Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program for reducing anxiety and depression in hospital staff during a pandemic: A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction could reduce psychopathological symptoms (anxiety, depression, somatization) and improve mindfulness-related skills, self-compassion, body awareness, and stress levels in hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results Summary
The study found significant improvements in somatization, depression, anxiety, mindfulness skills, self-compassion, and body awareness in the intervention group compared to controls. Limitations include the lack of long-term follow-up and potential self-report biases.
Population
97 hospital workers (experimental group n=54, control group n=44) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program | decrease | somatizations | hospital workers | p = .03; η2p = .047 | significant differences | #1 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program | decrease | depression | hospital workers | p = .01; η2p = .103 | significant differences | #2 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program | decrease | anxiety | hospital workers | p = .02; η2p = .054 | significant differences | #3 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program | increase | Observing | hospital workers | p = .001; η2p = .176 | significant differences | #4 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program | increase | acting with awareness | hospital workers | p = .01; η2p = .151 | significant differences | #5 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program | increase | nonjudging | hospital workers | p = .01; η2p = .103 | significant differences | #6 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program | increase | nonreactivity | hospital workers | p = .02; η2p = .101 | significant differences | #7 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program | increase | self-kindness | hospital workers | p = .029; η2p = .049 | significant differences | #8 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program | increase | mindfulness | hospital workers | p = .033; η2p = .047 | significant differences | #9 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program | decrease | self-judgment | hospital workers | p = .016; η2p = .060 | significant differences | #10 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program | decrease | isolation | hospital workers | p = .025; η2p = .051 | significant differences | #11 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program | increase | Body awareness | hospital workers | p = .044; η2p = .042 | significant differences | #12 |
Hospital staff have experienced an increase in psychopathological symptoms such as anxiety or depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the aims of the present research were, firstly, to study the effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program in reducing psychopathological symptoms in hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as, its effectiveness in increasing mindfulness-related skills, self-compassion, body awareness, and reducing stress levels. This parallel randomized controlled trial consisted of 97 hospital workers who were divided into two groups: the experimental group (n = 54) and the control group (n = 44). To test the efficacy of the program, participants' levels of psychopathological symptoms, mindfulness-related skills, self-compassion, body awareness, and stress were assessed and compared before and after the intervention. The results show a significant group × time interaction and significant differences in somatizations (p = .03; η2p = .047), depression (p = .01; η2p = .103) and anxiety (p = .02; η2p = .054). As well as in the following secondary outcomes: from the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire: Observing (p = .001; η2p = .176), acting with awareness (p = .01; η2p = .151), nonjudging; (p = .01; η2p = .103) and nonreactivity (p = .02; η2p = .101). In the Self-Compassion Scale: self-kindness (p = .029; η2p = .049), mindfulness (p = .033; η2p = .047), self-judgment (p = .016; η2p = .060) and isolation (p = .025; η2p = .051. And finally, in the Body awareness subscale from Self-Body Connection (p = .044; η2p = .042). These results highlight the importance of providing hospital staff with skills that help them connect in the present with their feelings and thoughts, without judgment and with self-compassion, to protect them from suffering an increase in their symptoms of somatization, anxiety, and depression, in adverse times like a pandemic.