Comparison of two brief mindfulness interventions for anxiety, stress and burnout in mental health professionals: a randomised crossover trial

Raquel Ruiz-Íñiguez; Ana Carralero Montero; Francisco A Burgos-Julián; Justo R Fabelo Roche; Miguel Á Santed

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1160714

Comparison of two brief mindfulness interventions for anxiety, stress and burnout in mental health professionals: a randomised crossover trial

Front Psychol. 2023 May 12:14:1160714. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1160714. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Raquel Ruiz-Íñiguez¹, Ana Carralero Montero², Francisco A Burgos-Julián¹, Justo R Fabelo Roche³, Miguel Á Santed¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Madrid, Spain.
² Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares (UAH), Madrid, Spain.
³ Center for Academic Development in Drug Addiction (CEDRO), Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana (UCM-H), Havana, Cuba.

Abstract

Background: Anxiety, stress and burnout are a growing reality among mental health professionals, impacting negatively on them and their clients. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating these sufferings. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge on the impact of MBIs in Cuba.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of two brief mindfulness-based interventions for reducing anxiety, work stress and burnout.

Methods: A total of 104 mental health professionals from Havana (Cuba) participated in a randomised crossover trial. Group A received first an intervention involving body-centred practices (body scan and Hatha yoga) and a second intervention involving mind-centred practices (focused attention and open monitoring meditation). Group B received the same interventions but in reverse order. Four measures (anxiety, stress, burnout syndrome, and antecedents of burnout) were measured at baseline, posttest1, posttest2, and 6-months follow-up.

Results: After the first intervention, there was a between-group difference for burnout syndrome, but the ES was similar for both groups. After the second intervention (implementing both practises), groups showed the largest effect sizes, and there was a between-group difference for antecedents of burnout. Results were partially maintained at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion: These results suggest that mind-centred practises can be as effective as body-centred practises for stress, anxiety and burnout reduction. The combination of both types of practises could be the most effective way of teaching mindfulness. About the sequence of implementation, teaching mind-centred practises first and then body-centred practises could be most effective for reducing antecedents of burnout.Clinical Trial Registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT03296254.

Keywords: anxiety; burnout; crossover study; meditation; mental health professional; mindfulness; occupational health; stress.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03296254