Mindfulness for Reducing Work-Related Stress

Work-related stress is a major contributor to absenteeism and reduces work productivity. Long-term chronic stress also has a detrimental impact on health and increases the risk of mental and physical illnesses. This underscores the urgency and need to find new approaches for the prevention and management of stress. Literature studies show that Mindfulness is an innovative and effective tool for managing stress in a variety of medical, social, and educational contexts. Mindfulness can be defined as a specific form of attention focused on the present moment, intentional and non-judgmental. Growing scientific evidence supports both the use and implementation of Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) in workplace settings to improve the ability to manage work-related stress and to enhance resilience. However, despite the increasing popularity and diffusion of MBIs, the biological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of Mindfulness remain unclear. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in improving physical and psychological well-being in a workplace setting (University of Siena). Specifically, this study will assess the impact of MBSR on stress reduction using an intervention adapted to the specific needs and requirements of the workplace. Additionally, the investigators will investigate whether MBSR can influence psychological correlates and biological markers of stress (inflammatory markers) in these employees. The effectiveness of this intervention could lead to an improvement in employees' quality of life and health and to a reduction in the socioeconomic impact of stress.