Six-year positive effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on mindfulness, coping and well-being in medical and psychology students; Results from a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Longitudinal research investigating the enduring impact of mindfulness training is scarce. This study investigates the six-year effects of a seven-week mindfulness-based course, by studying intervention effects in the trajectory of dispositional mindfulness and coping skills, and the association between those change trajectories and subjective well-being at six-year follow-up. 288 Norwegian medical and psychology students participated in a randomized controlled trial. 144 received a 15-hour mindfulness course over seven weeks in the second or third semester with booster sessions twice yearly, while the rest continued their normal study curricula. Outcomes were subjective well-being, and dispositional mindfulness and coping assessed using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and the Ways of Coping Checklist. Analyses were performed for the intention-to-treat sample, using latent growth curve models. At six-year follow-up, students receiving mindfulness training reported increased well-being. Furthermore, they reported greater increases in the trajectory of dispositional mindfulness and problem-focused coping along with greater decreases in the trajectory of avoidance-focused coping. Increases in problem-focused coping predicted increases in well-being. These effects were found despite relatively low levels of adherence to formal mindfulness practice. The findings demonstrate the viability of mindfulness training in the promotion of well-being and adaptive coping, which could contribute to the quality of care given, and to the resilience and persistence of health care professionals.Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00892138

The effect of mindfulness training on burnout syndrome in nursing: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…This outcome may be due to low adherence by the nurses taking part in the studies, since regular training is known to maintain low levels of burnout. However, the studies in question (Duarte & Pinto-Gouveia, 2016;Wong, Teng, Chee, Doshi, & Lim, 2018) reported high dropout rates, a pattern that has been repeated in other studies of healthcare workers (De Vibe et al, 2018;Shapiro, Astin, Bishop, & Cordova, 2005). Nevertheless, in line with some of our review findings, other authors have observed persistent improvements, lasting up to 12 months postintervention, with a reduction of 8.2% in burnout scores (Askey-Jones, 2018;Fortney et al, 2013;Lebares et al, 2018;Martín-Asuero & García-Banda, 2010;Steinberg et al, 2017).…”

Role of Coping Styles in the Relationship Between Nurses’ Work Stress and Well‐Being Across Career

“…This result indicates that a high use of PFC increases PWB, while a high use of EFC decreases PWB. Our results are consistent with those of previous studies (De Vibe et al, ; Park & Adler, ; Tavakolizadeh et al, ). The correlationship among PFC, EFC, and PWB is consistent with a recent study (Lee et al, ) in which researchers indicated that approach‐oriented coping similar to PFC was associated with improved PWB, whereas avoidant coping similar to EFC was a counterproductive coping style for PWB.…”

“…Stress coping styles have long been studied as mediator variables between stress and PWB (De Vibe et al, ; Malek, Fahrudin, & Kamil, ; Park & Adler, ; Tavakolizadeh, Mohammadi, & Safarzade, ). In Lazarus and Folkman’s () cognitive‐phenomenological model, cognitive appraisal of stress experience and coping strategies play key roles in the relationship between stress and adaptation to it.…”

Relationship between depression, anxiety, cognitive distortions, and psychological well‐being among nursing students

“…To improve nursing students’ psychological well‐being, their cognitive distortions and depression level should be determined, and for students at risk, mindfulness‐based intervention should be implemented in nurse education settings. Because mindfulness‐based intervention increased coping and well‐being in medical and psychology students . According to, mindfulness meditation programs had a positive impact on nursing students' stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, sense of well‐being and empathy.…”

“…Because mindfulness-based intervention increased coping and well-being in medical and psychology students. 44 According to, 45 mindfulness meditation programs had a positive impact on nursing students' stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, sense of well-being and empathy.…”