The effect of a mindfulness-based intervention on stress overload, depression, and mindfulness among nurses: A randomized controlled trial.

A mindfulness-based intervention delivered over four weeks to nurses in Jordan significantly reduced stress overload and depression while increasing mindfulness. The randomized controlled trial compared 65 nurses who received the intervention inside a hospital, 60 who received it outside the hospital, and 63 controls. Those in the intervention groups showed lower stress and depression and higher mindfulness than the control group. Delivering the intervention outside the hospital was more effective for improving mindfulness than inside the hospital.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Nurses experience various health-related issues due to the nature of their work. This study aimed to examine the effect of a mindfulness-based intervention on stress overload, depression and mindfulness among nurses. A secondary objective was to examine the role of the setting (i.e., in and out of the hospital as a natural setting) on mindfulness-based intervention effectiveness. A randomized controlled trial with three groups' pretest-posttest design was used in this study. A total of 195 nurses were recruited-65 intervention-inside hospital, 60 intervention-outside hospital, and 63 control. The mindfulness-based intervention was delivered by a certified mindfulness practitioner over 4 weeks in Jordan. Data were collected using a demographics questionnaire, the Stress Overload Scale Short, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised, and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. Multivariate analysis showed a statistically significant effect of the intervention on the linear combination of the dependent variables V = 0.44, F[6, 368] = 17.56, p < .001. Follow-up analyses showed that a mindfulness-based intervention significantly decreased stress overload, depression, and increased mindfulness levels among nurses in intervention groups compared with the control group. In addition, conducting a mindfulness-based intervention outside the hospital has a better effect on mindfulness levels than the inside hospital. The effect of a mindfulness-based intervention on stress overload, depression, and mindfulness should be considered when planning for nurses' well-being and the quality of care provided. Nurse managers are encouraged to use the study's findings to promote nurses' well-being.