Assessing the impact of mindfulness interventions on nurses' stress and burnout levels

Thesis Abstract

The escalating levels of stress and burnout among nurses have emerged as critical concerns within healthcare systems globally, impacting not only the well-being of nurses but also patient care quality and healthcare delivery outcomes. This study aims to empirically assess the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in reducing stress and burnout levels among registered nurses working in acute hospital settings. The specific objectives are to evaluate changes in perceived stress, burnout symptoms, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment resulting from a structured mindfulness program, as well as to explore nurses' perceptions of the interventions’ acceptability and feasibility. Employing a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design, the study was conducted in a major tertiary hospital, targeting a population of 200 registered nurses across medical and surgical wards. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 120 participants, divided equally into intervention and control groups. The intervention group participated in an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program, consisting of weekly 2-hour sessions, supplemented by daily individual mindfulness practice, while the control group continued with standard stress management resources. Data collection instruments included validated questionnaires the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), and a custom semi-structured interview guide to capture qualitative insights. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, employing descriptive statistics, paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-intervention scores, and multivariate regression analysis to identify predictors of stress and burnout reduction. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative interview data, following Braun and Clarke’s approach, to explore nurses' perceptions of the mindfulness intervention’s relevance and feasibility within their work environments. It is anticipated that the findings will demonstrate statistically significant reductions in perceived stress and burnout symptoms among nurses who participated in the mindfulness program compared to the control group. Specifically, it is expected that scores on emotional exhaustion and depersonalization subscales of the MBI-HSS will decrease, while personal accomplishment scores will increase, aligning with the theoretical framework grounded in the Job Demands-Resources theory and the Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory, which posit that mindfulness enhances emotional regulation and resilience. This study's contribution lies in providing empirical evidence supporting mindfulness interventions as a practical, cost-effective approach to mitigating nurse burnout, with implications for policy formulation and the integration of mindfulness training into standard occupational health strategies. The main conclusion underscores the positive impact of structured mindfulness practices in enhancing nurses' psychological well-being and work engagement. Based on the findings, it is recommended that healthcare institutions incorporate regular mindfulness training programs into nurse wellness initiatives, promote organizational support for stress reduction practices, and facilitate ongoing research to optimize intervention protocols. Future research should explore longitudinal effects of mindfulness on healthcare professionals' mental health, as well as its effects across diverse clinical settings and cultural contexts, to expand generalizability and sustainability of such interventions.