Self-compassion as a well-being strategy against burnout among dentists: a controlled intervention study.
Onur Ucak Turer, Mustafa Ozcan, Bahar Alkaya, Furkan Demirbilek, H Gokhan Kayhan, Gulcin Daglioglu, Nazli Totik, Gulsah Seydaoglu, M Cenk Haytac
BMC Psychology April 21, 2026 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-026-04571-w (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Controlled intervention study (non-randomized) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 49 |
| Population | Dentists |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based self-compassion (MBCL) training |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Hydrocortisone Oxytocin Interleukin-6 Empathy Burnout, professional Adult Middle aged Dentists Female Interleukin-1beta Psychological well-being Cortisol Interleukin-1β Dentistry Self-compassion |
| Registration | NCT06804720 |
| Key points | Dentists in the 8-week MBCL group showed lower IL-6 and IL-1β, a more adaptive diurnal cortisol pattern, and higher oxytocin than controls, along with reduced burnout and anxiety and increased self-compassion and mindfulness awareness. The authors describe these findings as preliminary and hypothesis-generating due to the non-randomized design and small sample. |
Abstract
Background: The dental profession is inherently demanding, often leading to chronic stress and an increased risk of burnout among practitioners. Burnout has been associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, alterations in cortisol levels, and heightened inflammatory responses. Mindfulness-based self-compassion (MBCL) training has emerged as a promising approach for mitigating occupational stress and supporting well-being.
Methods: This controlled intervention study examined the associations between an 8-week MBCL program and biochemical markers (cortisol, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and oxytocin), as well as psychological outcomes (burnout, mindfulness awareness, self-compassion, and anxiety) in dentists. A total of 49 participants were allocated to either the MBCL training group or a control group.
Results: Following the intervention, participants in the MBCL group showed lower IL-6 and IL-1β levels, a more adaptive diurnal cortisol pattern, and higher oxytocin levels compared with controls. In addition, reductions in burnout and anxiety scores, as well as increases in self-compassion and mindfulness awareness, were observed in the MBCL group.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that MBCL training may be associated with improvements in psychological well-being and stress-related biochemical markers among dentists. However, given the non-randomized design and relatively small sample size, the results should be interpreted as preliminary and hypothesis-generating rather than causal.
Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06804720 registration date 20/01/2025.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Individual participant data systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials assessing adult mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in non-clinical settings. Nature Mental Health July 10, 2023
- The Effect of Mindfulness Meditation Training on Biological Acute Stress Responses in Generalized Anxiety Disorder Psychiatry Research January 25, 2017
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: An Intervention to Enhance the Effectiveness of Nurses' Coping With Work-Related Stress International Journal of Nursing Knowledge June 1, 2014
- A pilot study and randomized controlled trial of the mindful self-compassion program. Journal of Clinical Psychology October 15, 2012
and 2 more in the library