Effectiveness of Acceptance, Compassion, and Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Coping and Psychological Flexibility in Anxious Emergency Nurses
Objective: This study investigated the effectiveness of a combined intervention model based on acceptance, compassion, and mindfulness in improving coping strategies and psychological flexibility among emergency department nurses with anxiety.
Methods and Materials: A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design was employed, involving 40 nurses purposively selected from hospitals in Nishapur. Participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups, with the former undergoing a 12-session intervention, each lasting 60 minutes, while the latter received no training. Data were collected using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (1988), Endler and Parker Coping Styles Questionnaire (2005) and the Dennis and Vander Wal Psychological Flexibility Scale (2010). Statistical analysis, including multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA), was performed to assess the intervention's impact.
Findings: Results showed significant improvements in the experimental group's coping strategies and psychological flexibility compared to the control group. Nurses in the intervention group reported better use of problem-focused coping strategies and demonstrated higher levels of psychological flexibility, enabling them to adapt more effectively to workplace stress and anxiety.
Conclusion: The findings underscore the value of integrated psychological interventions that combine acceptance, compassion, and mindfulness in addressing anxiety and stress among healthcare professionals. By enhancing adaptive coping mechanisms and fostering flexibility, this approach offers a comprehensive and practical solution to improving the mental well-being of nurses in high-stress environments. Future research is recommended to replicate these findings in larger and more diverse samples, as well as to explore the long-term benefits of such interventions on job satisfaction and overall mental health in healthcare settings.
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