Mindfulness and Educators’ Mental Health and Well-Being: Outcomes of a Two-Year Study
Bryndís Jóna Jónsdóttir, Kristján Ketill Stefánsson, Ingibjörg V. Kaldalóns, Anna Dora Frostadottir, Ólafur Páll Jónsson
School Mental Health September 17, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s12310-026-09914-x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Non-randomized longitudinal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Educators from five compulsory schools |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention implemented as part of a whole-school approach |
| Duration | Two years, with four self-report surveys |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Small to moderate improvements in educators' self-compassion and sense of efficacy were sustained over two years. Stress decreased in the first year but was only marginally significant at 24 months, with no long-term effects for anxiety or depression. The authors suggest mindfulness-based interventions may support aspects of educators' well-being and professional practice. |
Abstract
Abstract This study examines long-term changes in educators’ mental health skills (mindfulness, self-compassion, and self-efficacy) and mental health outcomes (stress, anxiety, and depression) following participation in a mindfulness-based intervention implemented as part of a whole-school approach in compulsory schools. Educators from five schools participated in a non-randomized longitudinal study over two years and completed four self-report surveys. Findings suggest small to moderate improvements in educators’ self-compassion and sense of efficacy, sustained over the two-year period. Stress levels decreased during the first year but were only marginally significant after 24 months, while no long-term effects were observed for anxiety or depression. Although the study is limited by sample size, self-selection, and reliance on self-reported measures, the findings suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may support aspects of educators’ well-being and professional practice and highlight the need for further large-scale longitudinal research examining their long-term impact in educational settings.
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 9
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness, by any other name…: trials and tribulations of sati in western psychology and science Contemporary Buddhism May 1, 2011
- Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators The Journal of Positive Psychology April 11, 2012
- Effectiveness of universal school-based mindfulness training compared with normal school provision on teacher mental health and school climate: results of the MYRIAD cluster randomised controlled trial. Evidence-Based Mental Health July 12, 2022
- Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Teachers: a Study on Teacher and Student Outcomes Mindfulness April 22, 2021
and 4 more in the library