Effects of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Zen Retreat on Affect and Well-Being in Healthcare Workers
Karina Solovieff, Miguel Angel Murua, María Arqueros, R. Wolbert, Jan Glasenapp, V. Forsythe, Joaquim Soler
Mindfulness July 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-026-02928-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Nonrandomized controlled study Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 212 |
| Population | Health professionals (retreat n=120; control n=92) |
| Interventions | 5-day silent residential Zen-style mindfulness retreat Dharma-talk comparator |
| Duration | 5-day intervention, outcomes assessed immediately before and after the 5-day period |
| Topics | Buddhism |
| Key points | Relative to an active Dharma-talk comparator, a 5-day silent residential Zen-style mindfulness retreat was associated with greater reductions in stress and depressive symptoms and greater improvements in self-compassion, situational self-awareness, and emotional, social, and psychological well-being. The largest adjusted between-group effects were for well-being (partial eta-squared 0.48–0.53) and stress (0.35). The authors caution that the nonrandomized design warrants cautious interpretation. |
Abstract
Mental health professionals are at elevated risk for psychological distress and reduced well-being, yet the effects of intensive Zen retreats in this population remain understudied. This study tested whether a 5-day silent, residential Zen-style mindfulness retreat yielded greater improvement than a time- and content-matched Dharma-talk comparator in distress, well-being, self-compassion, and situational self-awareness among health professionals. We conducted a nonrandomized controlled study in health professionals (retreat n = 120; control n = 92). The retreat involved a 5-day silent residential meditation practice, whereas the comparator consisted of daily pre-recorded Dharma talks without meditation, silence, or residential immersion. Outcomes were assessed immediately before and after the 5-day period. Relative to the active comparator, the retreat group showed greater reductions in stress and depressive symptoms, and greater improvements in self-compassion, situational self-awareness, and emotional, social, and psychological well-being. The largest adjusted between-group effects in ANCOVA models were observed for emotional, social, and psychological well-being (η2ₚ = 0.48–0.53) and stress (η2ₚ = 0.35). Participation in a 5-day silent residential Zen-style mindfulness retreat was associated with improvements in affective symptoms, self-compassion, situational self-awareness, and well-being relative to an active psychoeducational comparator. These findings support the potential value of intensive contemplative retreat training for clinicians practicing dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), while warranting cautious interpretation given the nonrandomized design. This study is not preregistered.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxytocin Release during the Meditation of Altruism and Appreciation (Arigato-Zen) 32 participants providing saliva samples before and after Arigato-Zen practice | 2018 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 32 |
| Zen Den: A Novel Approach to Promote Well-Being in the Workplace. Nurses at an academic level 1 trauma center in Hawaii | 2024 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 92 |
| Buddhist Meditation and Positive Psychology: Cultivating Happiness, Gratitude, and Life Satisfaction Adult participants from Vietnam aged 18-45 | 2026 | Quasi-experimental (nonrandomized) with wait-list control | n = 85 |
| State mindfulness, hope, and ikigai before and after crafting an amulet in a field study at a Zen temple in Kyoto Visitors to a Zen temple in Kyoto who participated in the Yuwai-mamori amulet-making... | 2026 | Qualitative and single-group pre-post field study | n = 426 |
| Buddhist-like opposite diminishing and non-judging during ketamine infusion are associated with antidepressant response: an open-label personalized-dosing study. Patients suffering from depression | 2022 | Open-label outpatient study | n = 11 |
Citations in the library
Cites 30
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Stress and Health March 15, 2010
- The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists PLoS One May 24, 2017
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for preventing relapse in recurrent depression: A randomized dismantling trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology December 3, 2013
and 25 more in the library