The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Perceived Stress Among Healthcare Professionals

Mindfulness is defined as a state of awareness in which an individual consciously pays attention to the present moment without judgment, reaction, or resistance, thereby promoting mental and psychological well-being. Self-compassion refers to adopting a kind, understanding, and supportive attitude toward oneself. While mindfulness enables individuals to recognize sources of stress and develop strategies to cope with them, self-compassion encourages a gentle and caring approach toward oneself during this process. Research has shown that mindfulness practices enhance self-compassion and that these two constructs have a synergistic effect in reducing stress. Work-related stress negatively affects both the professional functioning and overall health of individuals. Acknowledging the increasing prevalence of stress and stress-related illnesses, the International Labour Organization (ILO) officially included stress and stress-induced disorders in the list of occupational diseases in 2010. Compared to other professions, these stressors have a more profound physical and psychological impact on healthcare professionals. In this context, the concepts of mindfulness and self-compassion are critically important for enhancing the psychological resilience of healthcare professionals and improving their stress management skills. This study is designed as a non-randomized, quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group study to determine the effect of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on the levels of mindfulness, self-compassion, and stress among healthcare professionals. Data collection tools will include a demographic information form, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the A Scale to Mearsure Self-Compassion (SCS), and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for stress assessment. The research will be conducted with healthcare professionals working at Aksaray Training and Research Hospital, located in the central district o