Comparison of Two Brief Mindfulness Intervention for Stress, Anxiety and Burnout in Mental Health Professionals

Comparison of Two Brief Mindfulness Intervention for Stress, Anxiety and Burnout in Mental Health Professionals

Comparison of Two Brief Mindfulness Intervention for Stress, Anxiety and Burnout in Mental Health Professionals: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of two mindfulness interventions for stress, anxiety and burnout in mental health professionals. Participants will receive the treatments in reverse order: a brief intervention based on body-centered exercises and another brief intervention based on sitting meditation. It is hypothesized that both interventions will decrease stress and anxiety levels and professional burnout, with mindfulness body-centered exercises being at least as effective as mindfulness meditations.

The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of two mindfulness interventions for stress, anxiety and burnout in mental health professionals. It is a 2-sequence, 2-period, 2-treatment crossover design with sequences AB and BA. Treatment A consists of a block of five sessions of bodyfulness exercises, whereas experimental treatment B consists of a block of five sessions of sitting mindfulness meditation exercises. In the sixth session, the exercise blocks will be exchanged. Each group will be composed of half the sample, with a initial sample of 130. The principal hypothesis is that both interventions will decrease stress and anxiety levels and professional burnout, with body-centered exercises being at least as effective as mindfulness sitting meditations. Secondarily, the personality type will be analyzed as a moderating variable in those variables in which the interventions will be effective. Third, a qualitative study will be conducted in order to analyze the perceptions of change and experiences in Cuban mental health professionals who are beginner meditators. This study will allow to understand the differential effectiveness of bodyfulness and midfulness and what types of personality may benefit most from different types of meditation interventions. Also, it will hell to get a deeper understanding of mindfulness practice in a new cultural context (i.e., Cuba). A previous pilot study will be conduct to investigate the acceptability and effectiveness of a culturally-adapted mindfulness-based intervention in Cuba.

Body Mindfulness Exercised followed by Sitting Mindfulness Exercises. Written material and sound recordings will be offered as support elements.

Sitting Mindfulness Exercises followed by Body Mindfulness Exercises. Written material and sound recordings will be offered as support elements.

Gender, age, marital status, professional status, years of mental health work, workplace, previous experience in related techniques.

Cattell's 16 personality factors. This test uses a public domain scales from the Internation Personality Item Pool to measure the same traits.

Inclusion Criteria: To be a full time mental health professional To be 18 years or older To be able to attend weekly sessions Exclusion Criteria: To suffer a pathology that discourages participation in the study. Previous training in mindfulness

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [Miguel A. Santed], upon reasonable request.

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