Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program for reducing anxiety and depression in hospital staff during a pandemic: A randomized controlled trial.

Summary

Hospital workers faced heightened anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a study involving 97 participants revealing that a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program significantly alleviated these symptoms. The experimental group (n = 54) showed marked improvements in somatization, depression, and anxiety. Notably, self-compassion increased by 17.6%, while mindfulness-related skills like observing and acting with awareness improved by 15.1% and 10.3%, respectively. These findings underscore the vital role of mindfulness in supporting mental health among healthcare professionals during crises.

Abstract

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.

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