Job satisfaction and psychological well-being are critical factors for productivity in nursing homes. This research investigated the effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) on the job satisfaction and psychological distress levels of Turkish care workers for older adults in a nursing home.
Methods:
A pretest-posttest randomized experimental design was carried out with 62 care workers from a nursing home in Turkey. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either the 8-week MBSR or to the control group. The Job Satisfaction Scale and Brief Symptom Inventory were administered to the participants by the researchers before and after the intervention.
Results:
The findings indicated that the care workers’ job satisfaction and psychological well-being were below average. The MBSR program effectively increased job satisfaction and reduced participants’ psychological distress in the intervention group. A decrease in job satisfaction and an increase in psychological distress were observed in the control group at posttest.
Conclusion:
MBSR can help increase the job satisfaction of the care workers, alleviate the psychological adverse effects of working in a stressful environment, and increase the quality of care given in nursing homes.
AazamiS.ShamsuddinK.AkmalS.AzamiG. (2015). The relationship between job satisfaction and psychological/physical health among Malaysian working women. The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 22(4), 40–46. https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2015.22.4.6
2.
AdindaR.BintariD. (2020). Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) group intervention to reduce burnout among caregivers in nursing home. Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology, 9(2), 30–47. https://doi.org/10.12928/jehcp.v9i2.15874
3.
AfulaniP. A.NutorJ. J.AgbadiP.GyamerahA. O.MusanaJ.AborigoR. A.OdiaseO.GetahunM.OngeriL.MalechiH.MadadiM. O.ArhinfulB.KellyA. M.Awoonor-WilliamsJ. K. (2021). Job satisfaction among healthcare workers in Ghana and Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic: Role of perceived preparedness, stress, and burnout. Global Public Health, 1(10), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2021-0000022
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct (2002, amended effective June 1, 2010, and January 1, 2017). https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
6.
Amutio-KareagaA.García-CampayoJ.DelgadoL. C.HermosillaD.Martínez-TaboadaC. (2017). Improving communication between physicians and their patients through mindfulness and compassion-based strategies: A narrative review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 6(3), Article 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm6030033
7.
Arslanİ. (2018). Bilinçli farkındalık, depresyon düzeyleri ve algılanan stres arasındaki ilişki. Birey ve Toplum Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 8(2), 73–86. https://doi.org/10.20493/birtop.477445
AtanesA.AndreoniS.HirayamaM. S.Montero-MarinJ.BarrosV. V.RonzaniT. M.KozasaE. H.SolerJ.CebollaA.Garcia-CampayoJ.DemarzoM. M. (2015). Mindfulness, perceived stress, and subjective well-being: A correlational study in primary care health professionals. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 15(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-015-0823-0
10.
AysanM. F.AysanU. (2016). Who cares? Elderly care in Turkey. Economia & Lavoro The Long-Term Care, 50(3), 33–46. https://doi.org/10.7384/85918
11.
BaerR. (2015). Ethics, values, virtues, and character strengths in mindfulness-based interventions: A psychological science perspective. Mindfulness, 6(4), 956–969. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0419-2
12.
BaoX.XueS.KongF. (2015). Dispositional mindfulness and perceived stress: The role of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 78, 48–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.11.039
13.
BayerN.GolbasiZ.UzuntarlaY.AkarsuK. (2021). Job satisfaction, burnout and turnover intention of nurses working in hospital during the pandemic COVID-19 in Turkey. Journal of Clinical Medicine of Kazakhstan, 18(6), 69–75. https://doi.org/10.23950/jcmk/11347
14.
BehanC. (2020). The benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices during times of crisis such as COVID-19. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 37(4), 256–258. https://doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2020.46
15.
ConversanoC.CiacchiniR.OrrùG.Di GiuseppeM.GemignaniA.PoliA. (2020). Mindfulness, compassion, and self-compassion among health care professionals: What’s new? A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 1683. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01683
16.
CostelloH.WalshS.CooperC.LivingstonG. (2018). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and associations of stress and burnout among staff in long-term care facilities for people with dementia. International Psychogeriatrics, 31(8), 1203–1216. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1041610218001606
17.
CroninU.MccarthyJ.CornallyN. (2019). The role, education, and experience of health care assistants in end-of-life care in long-term care: A scoping review. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 46(1), 21–29. https://doi.org/10.3928/00989134-20181213-07
18.
CzubaK. J.O’RourkeD. J.CookI. (2019). Support workers’ experiences of work stress in long-term care settings: A qualitative study. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 14(1), 1622356. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2019.1622356
DerogatisL. R. (1992). Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI): Administration, scoring, and procedures manual (2nd ed.). National Computer Systems.
21.
ElsherbenyE.El-MasryR. (2018). Job satisfaction among nurses working in Mansoura university hospital: Effect of sociodemographic and work characteristics. Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine, 42, 227–240. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejom.2018.67064
22.
ErdoğanC. (2022). The long-term care system in Turkey (CRC 1342 Social Policy Country Briefs No. 26). University of Bremen, SOCIUM Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy.
23.
ErrázurizA.SchmidtK.UndurragaE. A.MedeirosS.BaudrandR.CussenD.HenriquezM.CelhayP.FigueroaR. A. (2020). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on psychological distress in health workers: A three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 145, 284–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires
24.
FiabaneE.GiorgiI.MusianD.SguazzinC.ArgenteroP. (2012). Occupational stress and job satisfaction of healthcare staff in rehabilitation units. La Medicina del Lavoro, 103(6), 482–492. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23405482/
25.
GandhiA.YuH.GrabowskiD. C. (2021). High nursing staff turnover in nursing homes offers important quality information. Health Affairs (Project Hope), 40(3), 384–391. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00957
26.
GhawadraS. F.Lim AbdullahK.ChooW. Y.DanaeeM.PhangC. K. (2020). The effect of mindfulness-based training on stress, anxiety, depression and job satisfaction among ward nurses: A randomized control trial. Journal of Nursing Management, 28(5), 1088–1097. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13049
27.
Giménez-EspertM. C.Prado-GascóV.Soto-RubioA. (2020). Psychosocial risks, work engagement, and job satisfaction of nurses during COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, Article 566896. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.566896
28.
GüdükO.AnkaraH. G. (2022). Factors affecting long-term care preferences in Turkey. Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research, 26(4), 330–339. https://doi.org/10.4235/agmr.22.0088
29.
GuillaumieL.BoiralO.ChampagneJ. (2017). A mixed-methods systematic review of the effects of mindfulness on nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 73(5), 1017–1034. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13176
30.
HalpinY.TerryL. M.CurzioJ. (2017). A longitudinal, mixed methods investigation of newly qualified nurses’ workplace stressors and stress experiences during transition. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 73(11), 2577–2586. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13344
31.
HudginsT. A. (2016). Resilience, job satisfaction and anticipated turnover in nurse leaders. Journal Nursing Management, 24, 62–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12229
32.
IşıkhanV. (2018). Kurumda çalışan yaşlı bakım elemanlarının bakım yükünü etkileyen faktörlerin incelenmesi. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet, 29(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.16947/tsd.318452
33.
JudgeT. A.WeissH. M.Kammeyer-MuellerJ. D.HulinC. L. (2017). Job attitudes, job satisfaction, and job affect: A century of continuity and change. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(3), 356–374. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000181
34.
JuulL.PallesenK. J.PietJ.ParsonsC.FjorbackL. O. (2018). Effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction in a self-selecting and self-paying community setting. Mindfulness, 9(4), 1288–1298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0852-1
35.
Kabat-ZinnJ. (1990). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. Delacorte.
36.
Kabat-ZinnJ. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. Hyperion.
37.
KhamisaN.PeltzerK.IlicD.OldenburgB. (2017). Effect of personal and work stress on burnout, job satisfaction and general health of hospital nurses in South Africa. Health SA Gesondheid, 22, 252–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hsag.2017.07.001
38.
KimM. S.KimT.LeeD.YookJ. H.HongY. C.LeeS. Y.YoonJ. H.KangM. Y. (2018). Mental disorders among workers in the healthcare industry: 2014 national health insurance data. Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 30, Article 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0244-x
39.
KriakousS. A.ElliottK. A.LamersC.OwenR. (2021). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the psychological functioning of healthcare professionals: A systematic review. Mindfulness, 12(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01500-9
40.
KuzgunY.SevimS. A.HamamcıZ. (1999). İş doyumu ölçeğinin geliştirilmesi. Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi, 2(11), 14–18.
41.
LinL.HeG.YanJ.GuC.XieJ. (2019). The effects of a modified mindfulness-based stress reduction program for nurses: A randomized controlled trial. Workplace Health Safety, 67(3), 111–122. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165079918801633
42.
LuF.XuY.YuY.PengL.WuT.WangT.LiuB.XieJ.XuS.LiM. (2019). Moderating effect of mindfulness on the relationships between perceived stress and mental health outcomes among Chinese intensive care nurses. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, Article 260. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00260
43.
MalleyJ.D’AmicoF.FernandezJ. (2019). What is the relationship between the quality of care experience and quality of life outcomes? Some evidence from long-term home care in England. Social Science and Medicine, 243, Article 112635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112635
44.
MarazzitiD.PozzaA.Di GiuseppeM.ConversanoC. (2020). The psychosocial impact of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: A lesson for mental health prevention in the first severely hit European country. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(5), 531–533. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000698
45.
MatudM. P.Sánchez-TovarL.Hernández-LorenzoD. E.Cobos-SanchizD. (2024). Job satisfaction, mental symptoms, and well-being in adult workers: A gender analysis. Psychiatry International, 5(2), 253–267. https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint5020018
46.
McGarryB. E.GrabowskiD. C.BarnettM. L. (2020). Severe staffing and personal protective equipment shortages faced by nursing homes during the covid-19 pandemic. Health Affairs, 39(10), 1812–1821. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01269
47.
McGiltonK. S.StewartS.BethellJ.ChuC. H.MateosJ. T.Pastells-PeiróR.Blanco-BlancoJ.Rodriguez-MonforteM.Escrig-PinolA.Gea-SánchezM. (2022). Factors influencing nurse assistants’ job satisfaction in nursing homes in Canada and Spain: A comparison of two cross-sectional observational studies. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(1), 235–244. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464820980567
48.
MilnerA.KingT. L.KavanaghA. (2019). The mental health impacts of health and human service work: Longitudinal evidence about differential exposure and susceptibility using 16 waves of cohort data. Preventive Medicine Reports, 14, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100826
49.
Navarro-PradosA. B.García-TizónS. J.MeléndezJ. C.LópezJ. (2024). Factors associated with satisfaction and depressed mood among nursing home workers during the covid-19 pandemic. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 33(1), 265–272. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16414
50.
PangD.RuchW. (2019). Fusing character strengths and mindfulness interventions: Benefits for job satisfaction and performance. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 24(1), 150–162. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000144
PintoD. M. S.LourençoL. G.EidL. P.PonceM. A. Z.AndradeJ. C.MourãoE. B.MuraroB. C. C.ArrudaG. C.OliveiraG.SouzaM. G. G.SasakiN. S. G.SantosE. R.MartinezW. D.CostaA. C.TorresA. M. R. P. V.JúniorA. J. S.WerneckA. L.MackeM.SouzaE. R.. . . MenezesJ. D. S. (2024). Satisfaction and workload as predictors of psychological distress in professionals of psychosocial care centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing Reports, 14(4), 3968–3983. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep14040290
53.
PiotrowskiA.Sygit-KowalkowskaE.BoeO.RawatS. (2022). Resilience, occupational stress, job satisfaction, and ıntention to leave the organization among nurses and midwives during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(11), Article 6826. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116826
54.
PitfieldC.ShahriyarmolkiK.LivingstonG. (2010). A systematic review of stress in staff caring for people with dementia living in 24-hour care settings. International Psychogeriatrics, 23(1), 4–9. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1041610210000542
55.
RouxelG.MichinovE.DodelerV. (2016). The influence of work characteristics, emotional display rules and affectivity on burnout and job satisfaction: A survey among geriatric care workers. International Journal Nursing Studies, 62, 81–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.07.010
56.
ŞahinM. K.AkerS.ŞahinG.KarabekiroğluA. (2020). Prevalence of depression, anxiety, distress and insomnia and related factors in healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Journal of Community Health, 45, 1168–1177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-020-00921-w
57.
SantorelliS. F.Meleo-MeyerF.KoerbelL.Kabat-ZinnJ. (2017). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) authorized curriculum guide. Center for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical School.
58.
SchwendimannR.DhainiS.AusserhoferD.EngbergS.ZúñigaF. (2016). Factors associated with high job satisfaction among care workers in Swiss nursing homes—A cross-sectional survey study. BMC Nursing, 15, Article 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-016-0160-8
59.
SpilsburyK.CharlwoodA.ThompsonC.HaunchK.ValizadeD.DeviR.JacksonC.AlldredD. P.ArthurA.BrownL.EdwardsP.FentonW.GageH.GloverM.HanrattyB.MeyerJ.WatonA. (2024). Relationship between staff and quality of care in care homes: StaRQ mixed methods study. Health and Social Care Delivery Research, 12(8), 1–139. https://doi.org/10.3310/GWTT8143
60.
SquiresJ. E.HobenM.LinklaterS.CarletonH. L.GrahamN.EstabrooksC. A. (2015). Job satisfaction among care aides in residential long-term care: A systematic review of contributing factors, both individual and organizational. Nursing Research and Practice, 2015, Article 157924. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/157924
61.
SulosaariV.UnalE.CinarF. I. (2022). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on the psychological well-being of nurses: A systematic review. Applied Nursing Research, 64, Article 151565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2022.151565
ViertiöS.KiviruusuO.PiirtolaM.KaprioJ.KorhonenT.MarttunenM.SuvisaariJ. (2021). Factors contributing to psychological distress in the working population, with a special reference to gender difference. BMC Public Health, 21, Article 611. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10560-y
64.
WangY.KongF. (2014). The role of emotional intelligence in the impact of mindfulness on life satisfaction and mental distress. Social Indicators Research, 116(3), 843–852. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0435-5
65.
WexlerT. M.SchellingerJ. (2023). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for nurses: An integrative review. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 41(1), 40–59. https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101221079472
66.
WolfC.SerpaJ. G. (2015). A clinician’s guide to teaching mindfulness: The comprehensive session-by-session program for mental health professionals and health care providers. New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
World Medical Association. (2013). Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA, 310(20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053
69.
ZhangY.PunnettL.MawnB.GoreR. (2016). Working conditions and mental health of nursing staff in nursing homes. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 37(7), 485–492. https://doi.org/10.3109/01612840.2016.1162884
70.
ZubairA. K.ArtemevaV. (2018). Mindfulness and resilience as predictors of subjective well-being among university students: A cross-cultural perspective. Journal of Behavioural Sciences, 28(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.33757/jbs.v28i2.90
