The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Perceived Stress Among Healthcare Professionals

The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Perceived Stress Among Healthcare Professionals

Mindfulness is defined as a state of awareness in which an individual consciously pays attention to the present moment without judgment, reaction, or resistance, thereby promoting mental and psychological well-being.

Self-compassion refers to adopting a kind, understanding, and supportive attitude toward oneself. While mindfulness enables individuals to recognize sources of stress and develop strategies to cope with them, self-compassion encourages a gentle and caring approach toward oneself during this process. Research has shown that mindfulness practices enhance self-compassion and that these two constructs have a synergistic effect in reducing stress.

Work-related stress negatively affects both the professional functioning and overall health of individuals. Acknowledging the increasing prevalence of stress and stress-related illnesses, the International Labour Organization (ILO) officially included stress and stress-induced disorders in the list of occupational diseases in 2010. Compared to other professions, these stressors have a more profound physical and psychological impact on healthcare professionals. In this context, the concepts of mindfulness and self-compassion are critically important for enhancing the psychological resilience of healthcare professionals and improving their stress management skills.

This study is designed as a non-randomized, quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group study to determine the effect of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on the levels of mindfulness, self-compassion, and stress among healthcare professionals. Data collection tools will include a demographic information form, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the A Scale to Mearsure Self-Compassion (SCS), and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for stress assessment. The research will be conducted with healthcare professionals working at Aksaray Training and Research Hospital, located in the central district of Aksaray, Turkey.

An 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program will be implemented for the intervention group. Data will be collected between May and December 2025. The results of the study will be analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. In addition to standardized scales, the effectiveness of the MBSR program will also be evaluated using a biological stress marker-salivary cortisol.

The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program implemented in this study is expected to contribute to the field of occupational health nursing. Furthermore, the program is anticipated to enhance healthcare professionals' abilities to consciously recognize their emotions, accept painful experiences with understanding rather than suppression, and transform negative thoughts and emotions into more constructive perspectives.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The intervention group consisted of participants whose perceived stress levels were above the arithmetic mean, as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale
• Individuals who provided informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with communication impairments (e.g., hearing, vision, or speech difficulties)
• Individuals currently engaged in stress-reducing practices such as yoga or various forms of meditation
• Pregnant individuals
• Individuals receiving medical or psychosocial treatment