Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on employees’ mental health: A systematic review
Math Janssen, Y. Heerkens, W. Kuijer, Beatrice van der Heijden, J. Engels
PLoS One January 24, 2018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191332 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA systematic review of 23 studies examined how Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) affect employee mental health. The strongest outcomes were reduced emotional exhaustion, stress, psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and occupational stress. Improvements were also seen in mindfulness, personal accomplishment, self-compassion, sleep quality, and relaxation. No studies focused exclusively on MBCT, so only MBSR effects are described. The evidence suggests MBSR may help improve psychological functioning in employees, though most studies were of medium or low quality and a meta-analysis was not performed due to the topic's exploratory nature and diverse outcomes.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Employees |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) |
| Keywords | Psychology Medicine |
| Key finding | MBSR may help improve psychological functioning in employees, with strongest outcomes in reduced emotional exhaustion, stress, psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and occupational stress. |
Abstract
Objectives The purpose of this exploratory study was to obtain greater insight into the effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on the mental health of employees. Methods Using PsycINFO, PubMed, and CINAHL, we performed a systematic review in October 2015 of studies investigating the effects of MBSR and MBCT on various aspects of employees’ mental health. Studies with a pre-post design (i.e. without a control group) were excluded. Results 24 articles were identified, describing 23 studies: 22 on the effects of MBSR and 1 on the effects of MBSR in combination with some aspects of MBCT. Since no study focused exclusively on MBCT, its effects are not described in this systematic review. Of the 23 studies, 2 were of high methodological quality, 15 were of medium quality and 6 were of low quality. A meta-analysis was not performed due to the emergent and relatively uncharted nature of the topic of investigation, the exploratory character of this study, and the diversity of outcomes in the studies reviewed. Based on our analysis, the strongest outcomes were reduced levels of emotional exhaustion (a dimension of burnout), stress, psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and occupational stress. Improvements were found in terms of mindfulness, personal accomplishment (a dimension of burnout), (occupational) self-compassion, quality of sleep, and relaxation. Conclusion The results of this systematic review suggest that MBSR may help to improve psychological functioning in employees.