Mindfulness and self-compassion as mediators of the Mindful2Work Training on perceived stress and chronic fatigue
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Mindfulness and self-compassion as mediators of the Mindful2Work Training on perceived stress and chronic fatigue Rachel T. van der Meulen 1,2 & Simon Valentin 1,3 & Susan M. Bögels 1,2 & Esther I. de Bruin 1,2 Accepted: 11 November 2020 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Objective There is increasing evidence that mindfulness-based interventions reduce stress and improve wellbeing in employees. However, less is known about the factors that mediate these effects. The aim of this study was to assess short- and long-term– mediating effects of mindfulness and self-compassion on the effects of the Mindful2Work training. Methods Employees with burnout complaints (N = 124) filled in questionnaires concerning perceived stress, chronic fatigue, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Assessments took place before, directly after the training and at 6 weeks follow-up. The intervention consisted of 6 weekly sessions of 2 h, combining mindful physical activity, yoga, and mindful meditation, and a follow-up session 6 weeks later. Results Multiple parallel and serial mediation analyses indicated that increases in mindfulness mediated the effects from pre- to post-test on stress and fatigue. Regarding the mindfulness facets; acting with awareness mediated the effects during the training on both stress and fatigue, and non-reactivity on stress. Furthermore, increases in self-compassion mediated the effects from posttest to follow-up on stress and fatigue. Lastly, it was found that during and after the training, increases in mindfulness led to more self-compassion, which in turn led to less stress (and after the training also to less fatigue). Conclusion This study indicates that part of employees’ stress and fatigue reduction over the course of the Mindful2Work training can be explained by increased mindfulness, and by increased self-compassion, directly and through increases of mindfulness. Keywords Mediation . Stress . Fatigue . Mindfulness . Self-compassion
In recent years, specific mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been developed to cater to the needs and circumstances of employees in corporate settings (e.g., Good et al. 2016; Huang et al. 2015; Klatt et al. 2009). Given the increases in occupational stress observed over the past decades (WHO 2010) and its negative effects on mental and physical health, it is not surprising that one of the main objectives of these MBIs lies in stress reduction (e.g., Chaskalson 2011). * Esther I. de Bruin [email protected] 1
Research Institute of Child Development and Education (RICDE), Research Priority Area Yield, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2
UvA minds, Academic Treatment Center, Banstraat 29, 1071 JW Amsterdam, the Netherlands
3
Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
Other objectives of MBIs in occupational settings are for instance improving employee wellbeing, emotional intelligence, or job performanc
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