Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for reducing stress and burnout among psychiatric nurses: a narrative review

Abstract

Psychiatric nursing can involve patient agitation, emotional labor, and difficult ethical situations, which are prone to nurse burnout and job-related stresses. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), could help alleviate such challenges. This narrative review brings together qualitative and quantitative research to examine the description of MBIs concerning aspects of stress, burnout and resilience in psychiatric nurses. Across clinical and cultural contexts, longer and more structured mindfulness programs - especially those shaped around local expectations - show clearer reductions in burnout dimensions. Shorter programs, single-session workshops, or online-only formats offer more limited benefits, and improvement often doesn't last long. Also, the MBSR is linked to better attentional control and greater emotional awareness, while ACT is associated with increased psychological flexibility and coping that reflects personal values - effects that seem especially meaningful in collectivist or spiritually influenced settings. Even so, findings on personal accomplishment and longer-term resilience are mixed because many studies rely on small samples, short follow-up, or weaker study designs. Even with these limitations, the literature suggests that integrating MBIs into organizational practices - through strategies such as protected time, managerial support, and culturally adapted materials - may help strengthen psychiatric nurses' well-being and foster more sustainable mental-healthcare environments. Research using stronger comparative designs is needed to explore how demographic and cultural factors influence the reach and relevance of MBIs for psychiatric nurses.