Impact of Mindfulness Meditation on Perceived Stress, Somatic Symptoms and Inflammatory Biomarkers Among Clinical Nurses.
Hossam Alhawatmeh, Luay Abusaif, Maryam Alharrasi, Sawsan Abuhammad
Journal of Nursing Scholarship 2026 DOI: 10.1111/jnu.70067 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 102 |
| Population | Nurses |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Biomarkers Nurse Somatic symptoms |
| Registration | NCT06635278 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation reduced perceived stress, somatic symptoms, and inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6 and leptin) in nurses. |
Abstract
Clinical nurses face notable chronic stress due to work-related stressors, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to somatic symptoms and low-grade inflammation. Mindfulness meditation has shown promise in reducing stress and improving health outcomes, but its effects on somatic symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers in nurses remain underexplored. To assess the impact of mindfulness meditation on somatic symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers such as leptin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α among nurses. To explore the secondary effects on perceived stress and trait mindfulness because of the complex interlinked association with the primary outcomes of interest. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 102 nurses randomly assigned to a meditation group (8-week mindfulness meditation program) or a non-meditation group. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires (Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-15) and blood samples for biomarker analysis at baseline and post-intervention. The meditation group demonstrated notable reductions in perceived stress (p < 0.001), somatic symptoms (p < 0.001), IL-6 (p < 0.001), and leptin levels (p < 0.001) compared to the non-meditation group. Trait mindfulness increased markedly in the meditation group (p = 0.003), while TNF-α levels did not show notable changes. Mindfulness meditation efficiently reduces perceived stress, somatic symptoms, and inflammatory biomarkers in nurses, highlighting its potential as a holistic intervention to improve both psychological and physical well-being in high-stress healthcare environments. ClinicalTrail.gove, NCT06635278.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 15
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Physical Conditions: A Narrative Review Evaluating Levels of Evidence ISRN Psychiatry November 14, 2012
- Brief mindfulness training reduces salivary IL-6 and TNF-α in young women with depressive symptomatology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 9, 2016
- Mindfulness Is Associated With Lower Stress and Higher Work Engagement in a Large Sample of MOOC Participants. Frontiers in Psychology 2021
- Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on psychological well-being, burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder among nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing February 20, 2022
and 10 more in the library