Exploring the Role of Mindfulness in the Well-being of Junior Doctors

Abstract

Aims

This study aims to explore the relationship between mental well-being (The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale), stress (Appraisal of Life Events Scale) and mindfulness (5 Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire) by means of a questionnaire.

Methods

The questionnaire was part of a mixed-method study looking into Mindfulness Resilience and Effectiveness Training in foundation doctors. In total 144 foundation doctors across the North West of England completed the questionnaire over a period of 5 months.

Results

A Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationships between mental well-being, appraisal of stress and mindfulness. Results show that there was a significant, negative, and somewhat weak association between mental well-being and the appraisal of stressful life events (r = (142) –.23, p = .006). A significant, positive, and strong relationship was also found between the two variables mindfulness and mental well-being (r (142) = .60, p < 0.001), in addition to a significant, weak positive relationship between mindfulness and appraisal of stressful life events (r (142) = –.18, p = .033).

Conclusion

The results indicate that those with greater mental well-being were better able to tolerate stressful life events and appraise them as a challenge. Likewise, those with greater mindfulness scores showed greater well-being suggesting that improving one may improve the other. This has implications for intervention development (e.g., training in mindfulness) which can help to further improve well-being and appraisal of stressful life events in trainee doctors.