Online and In-Person Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Improves Stress Resilience in Nursing Education.
Rebecca A Schwartz-mette, Maile Sapp, Kelley Strout
Worldviews on evidence-based nursing June 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1111/wvn.70031
Summary
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) significantly enhances resilience and wellness while reducing burnout among nursing students and faculty. In a study of 146 participants (73 in MBSR, 73 controls), MBSR led to notable decreases in perceived stress and total burnout, alongside increases in positive emotions and mindfulness skills like observing and nonreactivity. The effects were consistent across both online and in-person formats. Integrating such evidence-based interventions into nursing schools could greatly improve overall well-being and retention in the profession.
Abstract
Evidence-based interventions (EBI) can reduce nursing burnout and improve retention and healthcare quality. Nursing school is an ideal time to implement EBI to mitigate burnout and increase resilience in pre-professional populations. The current study tested whether Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) significantly improved stress, burnout, and wellness in a university-based nursing school. Using a non-randomized clinical trial design, multilevel modeling for repeated measures tested intervention effects over time in MBSR participants (n = 73) and matched controls (n = 73), as well as potential moderation of intervention effects by modality (online vs. in-person MBSR) and subpopulation (students vs. faculty/staff). MBSR effectively reduced perceived stress, exhaustion, and total burnout and increased positive affect and frequency of using two key mindfulness skills: observing and nonreactivity. No significant effects of the intervention were observed for disengagement from work, satisfaction with life, negative affect, or the mindfulness skills of describing, acting with awareness, and nonjudgment. Effects were similar across modality and subpopulation. MBSR increases stress resilience and can be delivered effectively online and in person. Moreover, MBSR appears equally impactful for nursing students and faculty/staff. Implications for integrating EBI into schools of nursing to improve well-being are discussed.