Mindfulness-Based Medical Practice: Exploring the Link between Self-Compassion and Wellness
Julie Anne Irving, Patricia L Dobkin, Jeeseon Park-Saltzman, Marilyn R. Fitzpatrick, Tom A. Hutchinson
International Journal of Whole Person Care August 8, 2026 DOI: 10.26443/ijwpc.v1i1.60 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 110 |
| Population | Health care professionals (physicians, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers) aged 24-82, 73% women |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Medical Practice (MBMP) |
| Duration | 8-week program |
| Measures | Maslach Burnout Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale-10, Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Neff Self-Compassion Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness-based medical practice |
| Key findings | Participation in MBMP was associated with significant reductions in perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization, and significant increases in personal accomplishment, mindfulness, self-compassion, and well-being. Changes in perceived stress and self-compassion predicted changes in well-being, suggesting self-compassion may be a key mechanism. |
Abstract
Objectives: In light of the detrimental impact of burnout upon clinicians and their patients, the identification of means through which the well-being of health care professionals can be fostered and protected is timely and important. The present study explored outcomes associated with participation in Mindfulness-Based Medical Practice (MBMP), a program modeled after Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction which included additional mindful communication exercises to foster the integration of mindfulness in various clinical settings.
Methods: Physicians, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers enrolled in the 8-week MBMP program.
Participants: (N = 110) between the age of 24 and 82 years (M = 46.5, SD = 11.4: 73% women) completed self-report measures prior to and following the program; the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale-10 and the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being. Two process measures designed to capture mechanisms of change were administered: the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, and the Neff Self-Compassion Scale.
Results: Results from paired-sample t-tests indicated that health care professionals enrolled in MBMP can benefit from the program. Analyses demonstrated significant decreases upon measures of perceived stress [p= .000], emotional exhaustion [p= .000], depersonalization [p= .000], and an increase in personal accomplishment [p= .000] as well as mindfulness [p=.000], self-compassion [p= .000], and well-being [p= .000]. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that change scores on perceived stress (Beta = -1.46, p LT 0.000) and self-compassion (Beta = 9.02, p LT 0.006) predicted changes in well-being in this sample. Additionally, participants rate perceived importance of having taken part in the course using a Likert-scale from 1-10 (M=8.5, SD = 1.51).
Conclusions: This study suggests that for health care professionals enrolled in MBMP may experience a variety of benefits associated with participation in the program. Further, increases in self-compassion may hold particular implications for well-being in this population.
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 |