[The effect of mindfulness-based training on emotion regulation and well-being in mental health professionals]

Dóra Perczel-Forintos1, Andrea Horváth2, Anna Mária Lisincki3

  • 11 Semmelweis Egyetem, Általános Orvostudományi Kar, Pszichiátriai és Pszichoterápiás Klinika, Klinikai Pszichológia Tanszék Budapest, Üllői út 25, 1091 Magyarország.

Orvosi Hetilap
|November 2, 2025
PubMed

Introduction: Mental health professionals in direct patient care are frequently exposed to prolonged stress, increasing the risk of anxiety, depression, and burnout. Mindfulness practice supports self-care by promoting adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, enhancing psychological well-being, and reducing impulsivity. Objective: To examine the effects of MBCT on mindfulness skills, emotion regulation strategies, impulsivity, and psychological well-being among mental health professionals. Method: 91 professionals (mean age: 44.5 years) participated in 9 group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy sessions. Measurements before and after the program included: Five-Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), Shortened Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-R-8), and WHO Well-Being Index (WBI-5). Data were analyzed using SPSS 25. Results: Mindfulness levels increased significantly, particularly in nonjudgment, mindful action, and observation. Adaptive emotion regulation strategies improved, especially positive reinterpretation and acceptance. Impulsivity did not decrease directly but showed significant negative correlations with mindful action and description subscales at post-test. The FFMQ observation subscale correlated positively with adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, notably perspective taking and positive reappraisal. Discussion and conclusion: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy training significantly enhanced mindfulness skills and adaptive emotion regulation strategy use. Improvements in nonjudgment, mindfulness, observation, positive reframing, and acceptance contributed to reduced negative emotional states and more effective coping with professional challenges. Increased acceptance fostered a more open, nonjudgmental attitude toward self and others, further supporting stress reduction. Orv Hetil. 2025; 166(44): 1736–1745.

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