Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy in Improving Quality of Life Among Anesthesiology Residents.
Edith Casillas-Alvarez, Angélica Ortega-Barreiro, Alejandro González-Ojeda, Xochitl Monteon Aspeitia, Jazmín Montserrat Guzmán Díaz, Carlos Enrique Capetillo-Texson, Guadalupe Castillo-Cardiel, Gabino Cervantes Guevara, Enrique Cervantes Pérez, Sol Ramirez Ochoa, Francisco Barbosa-Camacho, Clotilde Fuentes-Orozco
Actas Españolas de Psiquiatría April 15, 2026 DOI: 10.62641/aep.v54i2.1979 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective single-group pre-post intervention study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 27 |
| Population | Third-year anesthesiology residents from a tertiary care hospital |
| Duration | 6-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | A modified 6-week MBSR program significantly improved five of eight SF-36 quality-of-life domains in anesthesiology residents. |
Abstract
Anesthesiology residents face high levels of occupational stress that can negatively impact their well-being and quality of life. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has emerged as a promising intervention to support mental health in healthcare professionals. To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified MBSR program on quality of life among anesthesiology residents. This prospective, single-group pre-post intervention study included 27 third-year anesthesiology residents (mean age 28.8 ± 1.9 years; 59.3% female) from a tertiary care hospital. Participants completed a 6-week modified MBSR program consisting of three 15- minute sessions per week. Quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey before and after the intervention. Pre-post comparisons were conducted using paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests as appropriate. Significant improvements were observed in five of eight SF-36 domains: Physical Functioning (91.67 ± 11.43 vs. 97.96 ± 4.65, p = 0.001), Role-Physical (60.19 ± 33.44 vs. 81.48 ± 22.56, p = 0.006), Bodily Pain (74.81 ± 19.01 vs. 89.44 ± 15.60, p = 0.049), Vitality (48.33 ± 15.75 vs. 71.67 ± 17.26, p = 0.001), and Mental Health (59.89 ± 13.39 vs. 78.96 ± 14.73, p = 0.004). No significant sex-based differences in treatment response were observed. A brief, modified MBSR program significantly improved multiple dimensions of quality of life in anesthesiology residents. These findings support the integration of mindfulness-based interventions into residency training programs to enhance resident well-being.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |