Relations between mindfulness, perceived stress and psychopathological symptoms in healthcare professionals and control participants

Abstract

The present study investigated the relations between dispositional mindfulness (MD), perceived stress and psychopathological symptoms in healthcare professionals (N = 104) and control participants (N = 125). Participants completed an online survey including the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Symptom Check List-90-R in the period between May and September 2021. The results revealed three main points. First, healthcare professionals reported higher levels of dispositional MD and lower levels of psychopathological symptoms. Second, dispositional MD was negatively associated with both perceived stress and psychopathological symptoms. Third, group moderated the relation between dispositional MD and psychopathological symptoms, such that high levels of mindfulness reduced psychopathological symptoms in healthcare professionals but not in control participants. Taken together, these findings suggest that the protective influence of dispositional MD on psychological wellbeing may be particularly pronounced in healthcare professionals.