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Volume 26, Issue 1 (Spring 2024)
Advances in Cognitive Sciences 2024, 26(1): 33-45 |
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Karimi N, Abdollahi M, Rahimaghaee F. Investigating the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on stress symptoms and psychological capital of intern medical students. Advances in Cognitive Sciences 2024; 26 (1) :33-45
URL: http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-1665-en.html
URL: http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-1665-en.html
1- Master’s Degree Student of Department of Psychology, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran
2- Instructor of Department of Psychology, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran
3- Associate Professor, Medical Science Faculty, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran
2- Instructor of Department of Psychology, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran
3- Associate Professor, Medical Science Faculty, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran
Abstract: (1835 Views)
Introduction
Students play a crucial role in shaping the future of a nation and are thus regarded as a vital segment of society. Studies indicate a high prevalence of mental disorders such as stress, anxiety, and depression among students (1). Medical students, in particular, face significant psychological pressure due to factors like direct patient interaction, high workload, and role ambiguity, which can lead to higher levels of stress compared to other students (2). Stress among medical interns, caused by work pressure, can negatively impact their mental health, academic progress, and readiness for professional roles (3).
Psychological capital, encompassing components like hope, resilience, optimism, and self-efficacy, has emerged as a crucial factor in coping with stress (11). Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) interventions have gained attention for their effectiveness in enhancing psychological capital and reducing stress (7).
While recent research has shown promising results regarding the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy, studies focusing on medical interns still need to be included. Given the continuous interaction with patients, medical interns may face heightened stress levels, highlighting the need for research in this area. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction training on stress symptoms and cognitive capital among medical interns at Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon.
Methods
The present research was conducted experimentally with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the research was the intern medical students of Tankabon Islamic Azad University, Iran, in 2022-2023, on the basis of which 100 intern medical students were voluntarily asked to fill in the questionnaires of the current research. Thirty people with stress symptoms and low psychological capital were randomly selected (15 people in the experimental group) and (15 people in the control group). Before the intervention, a pre-test was performed and after the intervention, a post-test was performed on the people of the control and experimental groups. The effect of this method was measured. The criteria for entering the present study were: 1) Willingness to cooperate with clients for educational intervention, 2) Failure to simultaneously participate in any other educational intervention, 3) Medical students, both male and female, should be studying during the internship period, and 4) Sign the informed consent to participate in the study and be committed to attending the entire course. The criteria for leaving the present study were 1) Having non-educational motivations such as lack of interest in the field of study and family and job problems, 2) Absence of more than two sessions in the education process, and 3) Dissatisfaction with participation in meetings and research due to interference with other curricular and non-curricular programs.
Measures
1) Khodayari Fard and Parand Stress Symptoms Questionnaire (2005): This questionnaire, based on the Stress Symptoms Questionnaire (Seyed-Khorasani-Sadeghiani, 1998), measures stress symptoms across cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physical domains. It comprises 50 items, with responses rated on a six-point Likert scale (12).
2) Psychological Capital Questionnaire by Luthans et al. (2007): This questionnaire, designed by Luthans and colleagues in 2007, consists of 24 items assessing self-efficacy, hope, resilience, and optimism. Responses are rated on a six-point likert scale, with higher scores indicating more significant psychological capital (13).
3) Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program: The program was based on the Kabat-Zinn protocol (2005) and comprised eight 120-minute weekly sessions (15).
Data Analysis
Data analysis included descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney test, and multivariate covariance analysis to compare the effects of MBSR training on stress symptoms and psychological capital between the experimental and control groups. SPSS software was utilized for statistical analysis and interpretation of results.
Results
In the sample population, it was observed that 60% of the participants, totaling 18 individuals, were identified as male students, whereas 40%, equivalent to 12 individuals, were identified as female students. Further examination of the age distribution within the sample revealed that the majority, constituting 56% (17 individuals), fell within the age range of 20 to 30 years old. Following this group, 36% (11 individuals) were found to be between the ages of 31 to 40 years old, while a smaller proportion, comprising 8% (2 individuals), belonged to the age bracket of 41 to 50 years old.
The findings of the study revealed a statistically significant disparity between the experimental group that engaged in mindfulness-based stress reduction training and the control group that did not receive any instructional intervention. This difference was particularly notable regarding the reduction of stress symptoms and the enhancement of psychological capital, as evidenced by the analysis conducted at a significance level of (P<0.05).
Conclusions
The current study on mindfulness-based stress reduction training has shown impressive results. It highlights that this program can effectively reduce stress symptoms while boosting the psychological well-being of medical interns. Therefore, this research not only holds considerable value in the realm of improving mental and physical health but also presents practical applications for enhancing performance and reducing stress in medical professions and similar professional environments. These findings can serve as a guide for developing similar educational programs in other medical and health-related fields, aiming for continuous improvement in the quality of healthcare services and stress reduction within these professions.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
All subjects received information about the research. They were assured that all information would remain confidential and only be used for research. Informed consent was obtained from the participants.
Authors’ Contributions
Conceptualization, research design, and collection of sources: Nazanin Karimi and Masoud Abdollahi; Implementation, writing, and drafting of the article: Nazanin Karimi; Analysis and processing of data, revision, and editing of the article: Masoud Abdollahi and Flora Rahimaghaee. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the article.
Acknowledgments
This article is based on the master’s thesis in the field of clinical psychology by the first author at Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon branch. The researchers are grateful to all who helped with this research.
Conflict of interest
The authors declared no conflicts of interest in this article.
Funding
This article did not receive any financial support.
Students play a crucial role in shaping the future of a nation and are thus regarded as a vital segment of society. Studies indicate a high prevalence of mental disorders such as stress, anxiety, and depression among students (1). Medical students, in particular, face significant psychological pressure due to factors like direct patient interaction, high workload, and role ambiguity, which can lead to higher levels of stress compared to other students (2). Stress among medical interns, caused by work pressure, can negatively impact their mental health, academic progress, and readiness for professional roles (3).
Psychological capital, encompassing components like hope, resilience, optimism, and self-efficacy, has emerged as a crucial factor in coping with stress (11). Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) interventions have gained attention for their effectiveness in enhancing psychological capital and reducing stress (7).
While recent research has shown promising results regarding the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy, studies focusing on medical interns still need to be included. Given the continuous interaction with patients, medical interns may face heightened stress levels, highlighting the need for research in this area. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction training on stress symptoms and cognitive capital among medical interns at Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon.
Methods
The present research was conducted experimentally with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the research was the intern medical students of Tankabon Islamic Azad University, Iran, in 2022-2023, on the basis of which 100 intern medical students were voluntarily asked to fill in the questionnaires of the current research. Thirty people with stress symptoms and low psychological capital were randomly selected (15 people in the experimental group) and (15 people in the control group). Before the intervention, a pre-test was performed and after the intervention, a post-test was performed on the people of the control and experimental groups. The effect of this method was measured. The criteria for entering the present study were: 1) Willingness to cooperate with clients for educational intervention, 2) Failure to simultaneously participate in any other educational intervention, 3) Medical students, both male and female, should be studying during the internship period, and 4) Sign the informed consent to participate in the study and be committed to attending the entire course. The criteria for leaving the present study were 1) Having non-educational motivations such as lack of interest in the field of study and family and job problems, 2) Absence of more than two sessions in the education process, and 3) Dissatisfaction with participation in meetings and research due to interference with other curricular and non-curricular programs.
Measures
1) Khodayari Fard and Parand Stress Symptoms Questionnaire (2005): This questionnaire, based on the Stress Symptoms Questionnaire (Seyed-Khorasani-Sadeghiani, 1998), measures stress symptoms across cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physical domains. It comprises 50 items, with responses rated on a six-point Likert scale (12).
2) Psychological Capital Questionnaire by Luthans et al. (2007): This questionnaire, designed by Luthans and colleagues in 2007, consists of 24 items assessing self-efficacy, hope, resilience, and optimism. Responses are rated on a six-point likert scale, with higher scores indicating more significant psychological capital (13).
3) Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program: The program was based on the Kabat-Zinn protocol (2005) and comprised eight 120-minute weekly sessions (15).
Data Analysis
Data analysis included descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney test, and multivariate covariance analysis to compare the effects of MBSR training on stress symptoms and psychological capital between the experimental and control groups. SPSS software was utilized for statistical analysis and interpretation of results.
Results
In the sample population, it was observed that 60% of the participants, totaling 18 individuals, were identified as male students, whereas 40%, equivalent to 12 individuals, were identified as female students. Further examination of the age distribution within the sample revealed that the majority, constituting 56% (17 individuals), fell within the age range of 20 to 30 years old. Following this group, 36% (11 individuals) were found to be between the ages of 31 to 40 years old, while a smaller proportion, comprising 8% (2 individuals), belonged to the age bracket of 41 to 50 years old.
The findings of the study revealed a statistically significant disparity between the experimental group that engaged in mindfulness-based stress reduction training and the control group that did not receive any instructional intervention. This difference was particularly notable regarding the reduction of stress symptoms and the enhancement of psychological capital, as evidenced by the analysis conducted at a significance level of (P<0.05).
Conclusions
The current study on mindfulness-based stress reduction training has shown impressive results. It highlights that this program can effectively reduce stress symptoms while boosting the psychological well-being of medical interns. Therefore, this research not only holds considerable value in the realm of improving mental and physical health but also presents practical applications for enhancing performance and reducing stress in medical professions and similar professional environments. These findings can serve as a guide for developing similar educational programs in other medical and health-related fields, aiming for continuous improvement in the quality of healthcare services and stress reduction within these professions.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
All subjects received information about the research. They were assured that all information would remain confidential and only be used for research. Informed consent was obtained from the participants.
Authors’ Contributions
Conceptualization, research design, and collection of sources: Nazanin Karimi and Masoud Abdollahi; Implementation, writing, and drafting of the article: Nazanin Karimi; Analysis and processing of data, revision, and editing of the article: Masoud Abdollahi and Flora Rahimaghaee. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the article.
Acknowledgments
This article is based on the master’s thesis in the field of clinical psychology by the first author at Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon branch. The researchers are grateful to all who helped with this research.
Conflict of interest
The authors declared no conflicts of interest in this article.
Funding
This article did not receive any financial support.
Type of Study: Research |
Received: 2024/02/24 | Accepted: 2024/05/26 | Published: 2024/08/28
Received: 2024/02/24 | Accepted: 2024/05/26 | Published: 2024/08/28
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