Effectiveness Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Occupational Stress and General Health Train Drivers in Kashan City

Background: Train driver is a job with a high level of occupational stress. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness mindfulness-based stress reduction on occupational stress and general health among train drivers.

Method: This study was a quasi-experimental pretest - posttest with control group. Utilization of voluntary sampling method, 30 people were selected among the train drivers in Kashan City and were assigned into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 8 sessions of mindfulness based stress reduction. General health questionnaire and occupational stress questionnaires (Devis & et al) were also used to collect data.

Results: In terms of occupational stress, the mean scores of the experimental and control groups in the pretest stage were 32.27 and 34.63, respectively. Meanwhile, the mean scores of the experimental and control group in the posttest stage were 24.86 and 34.17, respectively. In terms of general health, the mean scores of the experimental and control groups at the pretest were 26.14 and 28.34, respectively. In the meantime, the mean scores of the mentioned groups in the posttest stage were 19.23 and 27.98. In other words, mindfulness based on stress reduction had effect on increasing the general health and reducing occupational stress.

Conclusion: According to the research findings, mindfulness based stress reduction is an appropriate intervention to reduce occupational stress and it is effective in increasing mental health of train drivers.