Effectiveness of a Self-Awareness–based Mindfulness Meditation Program in Reducing Burnout and Improving Job Performance among Hospital Nurses in Indonesia
Natural Resources for Human Health September 11, 2026 DOI: 10.53365/nrfhh.1414 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Hospital nurses at Mitra Medika General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia |
| Intervention | Self-awareness-based mindfulness meditation program |
| Duration | 8-week intervention; outcomes assessed at baseline and immediately after the intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Nurses who completed the 8-week self-awareness-based mindfulness meditation program showed a 18.8-point reduction in burnout (27.5%) and an 11.1-point increase in job performance (16.4%), while the control group changed little; both between-group differences were significant. The authors conclude the program may be a feasible complementary strategy for supporting nurses' psychological well-being and occupational functioning. |
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week self-awareness–based mindfulness meditation program in reducing burnout and improving job performance among hospital nurses in Indonesia.
Methods: This quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group study included 60 hospital nurses at Mitra Medika General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia. Participants were allocated to an intervention group receiving an 8-week self-awareness–based mindfulness meditation program (n=30) or a control group receiving usual workplace support and routine occupational health activities (n=30). Burnout and job performance were assessed at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Within- and between-group changes were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, with significance set at p<0.05.
Results: Baseline burnout and job-performance scores were comparable between groups. Burnout decreased from 68.4 ± 8.7 to 49.6 ± 7.9 in the intervention group (−18.8 points; 27.5%), compared with 67.9 ± 8.5 to 64.8 ± 8.3 in the control group (−3.1 points; 4.6%). The between-group difference in mean change was −15.7 points (p<0.001). Job performance increased from 67.8 ± 6.5 to 78.9 ± 5.8 in the intervention group (+11.1 points; 16.4%), compared with 68.2 ± 6.3 to 70.1 ± 6.1 in the control group (+1.9 points; 2.8%). The between-group difference in mean change was 9.2 points (p<0.001). Significant improvements were observed only in the intervention group (p<0.001).
Conclusion: An 8-week self-awareness–based mindfulness meditation program was associated with substantial reductions in burnout and improvements in job performance among hospital nurses. Integrating structured mindfulness practices into workplace nursing programs may provide a feasible complementary strategy to support nurses’ psychological well-being and occupational functioning.