The Effects of the Compassionate Mind Training for Caregivers on Professional Quality of Life and Mental Health: Outcomes from a Cluster Randomized Trial in Residential Youth Care Settings

Abstract

Background Psychological distress is highly noticeable among caregivers working in residential youth care (RYC). Maintaining and enhancing caregivers’ professional mental health and quality of life is crucial to achieve effective outcomes in RYC. Nevertheless, trainings to protect caregivers’ mental health are scarce. Considering the buffering effect over negative psychological outcomes, compassion training could be beneficial in RYC. Objective This study is part of a Cluster Randomized Trial examining the effects of the Compassionate Mind Training for Caregivers (CMT-Care Homes), looking at professional quality of life and mental health of caregivers working in RYC. Method The sample was composed of 127 professional caregivers from 12 Portuguese residential care homes (RCH). RCHs were randomly allocated at experimental (N = 6) and control group (N = 6). Participants were assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and 3 and 6-month follow-ups, answering to the Professional Quality of Life Scale and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Program effects were tested using a two-factor mixed MANCOVA, with self-critical attitude and education degree as covariates. Results MANCOVA showed a significant Time × Group interaction effects (F = 1.890, p = .014; $${\eta }_{p}^{2}$$ η p 2 = .050), with CMT-Care Homes participants presenting lower scores on burnout, anxiety, and depression at 3 and 6-months follow-ups, when compared with controls. Participants that received CMT-Care Homes considered the program useful to deal with pandemic threats and with youth during lockdowns. Conclusion This study shows the benefits of the CMT-Care Homes in helping professional caregivers reducing burnout, anxiety and depression, and dealing with pandemic challenges in RYC. Trial registration: This cluster randomized trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (TRN: NCT04512092) on 6th August 2020.

La Satisfacción Laboral de los y las Profesionales de Acogimiento Residencial Infantil y Juvenil: Una Mirada Europea

“…Todas estas problemáticas tienen una estrecha relación con la aparición del síndrome de burnout y una baja satisfacción laboral (Baugerud et al, 2018;Cabiati et al, 2020;Engell et al, 2020;Steinlin et al, 2017) y si no son atendidas adecuadamente pueden repercutir en la calidad de vida en el trabajo, en la atención prestada y, en última instancia, en la calidad de vida de niños y niñas (Santos et al, 2024).…”

“…Las evidencias recogidas hacen hincapié en desarrollar estrategias eficaces de prevención del malestar emocional y gestión de la satisfacción laboral. Esto se traduce en la implementación de factores de protección en la praxis profesional (Biggart et al, 2017;Burns et al, 2020;Cabiati et al, 2020;Frost et al, 2018;Gazilj et al, 2021;Martínez-Pérez & Lezcano-Barbero, 2020;McFadden et al, 2018;Santos et al, 2022;Santos et al, 2024;Silva et al, 2022;Steinlin et al, 2017;Vaskinn et al, 2021).…”

“…La teoría del arraigo laboral ("job embeddedness") de Burns et al (2020) también puede traducirse en recursos y factores de protección positivos para mejorar la calidad laboral de los profesionales. Más recientemente, se crea el proyecto "Compassionate Mind Training" (CMT-Care Homes), consultable en Santos et al (2024).…”