The efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques in psychiatric nursing for stress management
Journal of Mental Health Nursing January 1, 2026 Wei-Chen Lin, Mei-Hua Chang
An 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program adapted for psychiatric nurses in Taipei, Taiwan, substantially reduced perceived stress and emotional exhaustion. At 8 weeks, the MBSR group showed a mean Perceived Stress Scale reduction of 9.1 points (30.9% decrease) compared to 1.8 points in the waitlist control group, with reductions maintained at 3-month follow-up. Emotional exhaustion decreased by 7.3 points in the MBSR group versus 1.1 points in controls. Mindfulness scores increased across all five facets, with the largest gains in non-reactivity and acting with awareness. 78.8% of participants reported a positive effect on patient care quality. The findings support MBSR as a viable occupational health intervention for this population.