The impact of mindfulness training on emotional resilience and job engagement among NICU and PICU Saudi and Egyptian nurses: a quasi experimental comparative study.
Amal I Khalil, Abeer Esawi, Ebtesam Abdulshakoor, Omayma M Abu Samra
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1701580 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental pre-post-comparative design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | NICU and PICU nurses from King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital (Saudi Arabia) and Mansoura University Pediatric Hospital (Egypt) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program |
| Dose | eight sessions |
| Measures | Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Egypt Nicu Picu Saudi arabia Emotional resilience Job engagement Nurses |
| Post-publication review | 2 comments on PubPeer (opens in new tab) · last active February 2026 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness training improved emotional resilience, job engagement, and mindfulness among NICU and PICU nurses in both countries, with Egyptian nurses showing greater gains than Saudi nurses. |
Abstract
Nurses working in Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units (NICU/PICU) experience high levels of stress that can diminish emotional resilience and job engagement. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are known to enhance psychological well-being; however, evidence in culturally diverse settings, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, remains limited. This study assessed the effects of mindfulness training on emotional resilience, job engagement, and mindfulness and compared the outcomes between NICU and PICU nurses in both countries. A quasi-experimental pre-post-comparative design was used. The participants were nurses from the King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital (Saudi Arabia) and Mansoura University Pediatric Hospital (Egypt). Emotional resilience, engagement, and mindfulness were measured using validated tools, including the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). An eight-session Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program was delivered in person, supported by video recordings to address scheduling constraints. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation (p < 0.05). The baseline demographics of the Egyptian and Saudi nurses were comparable. Post-intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in mindfulness, engagement, and resilience. Egyptian nurses demonstrated greater gains, with mindfulness increasing from 74.8 to 164.0, engagement from 24.2 to 81.3, and resilience from 13.1 to 36.3. Saudi nurses also improved, with mindfulness increasing from 79.7 to 136.5, engagement from 26.1 to 72.6, and resilience from 14.7 to 28.7. High levels across all domains were achieved by 91.7% of the Egyptian nurses and 25.0-73.3% of the Saudi nurses. Mindfulness training is an effective strategy for enhancing emotional resilience and job engagement among NICU and PICU nurses. Flexible delivery can reduce implementation barriers, supporting culturally adapted MBIs to improve nurses' 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 |
Citations in the library
Cites 15
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Improving Health, Quality of Life, and Social Functioning in Adults Campbell Systematic Reviews 2012
- Effects of a mindfulness-based interventions on stress, burnout in nurses: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Psychiatry August 3, 2023
and 10 more in the library