Psychological Flexibility and Mindfulness as Predictors of Individual Outcomes in Hospital Health Workers

Abstract

Research in organizational psychology emphasizes the idea that wellbeing and productivity outcomes are influenced both by individual differences (traits, values) and work environment characteristics (relationships, climate). Evidence on the effectiveness of psychological interventions for stress is currently unclear. To date, research on psychological flexibility in workplaces has not been systematically conducted in Italy. We investigated its relevance in the context of the Italian health care system. In this study, the relationship between sources of stress at work and its outcomes in terms of psychological and physical health are explored. Furthermore, the moderating effect of psychological flexibility and mindfulness on psychological and physical health are investigated. Four hundred and eleven health workers from a Sicilian hospital, with different job positions were recruited, of which 42.7% were males ( N = 169) and 57.3% were females ( N = 227). Their ages ranged between 25 and 72 years ( M = 49.16; SD = 8.65). Participants answered a questionnaire that assessed psychological flexibility, mindfulness, sources of stress at work and health benefits. In a bivariate analysis, managerial factors (MF), relationships, and intrinsic factors are partially negatively related to psychological and physical health; whereas, multivariate analyses show that psychological flexibility does not moderate the relationship between psychological and physical health. Instead, mindfulness is strongly and consistently correlated to psychological and physical health. Employees who show psychological flexibility, are more likely to show greater openness to the acceptance of setbacks in the working environment and to carry on their valued living and working path. This seems to correlate positively on individual wellbeing. Data show that a flexible and mindful attitude toward difficult psychological events aids responsiveness to changes and the ability to work more effectively.

Burnout and Self-Perceived Instructional Competence: An Exploratory Study of a Group of Italian Female Elementary School Teachers

“…In particular, according to the present research, among the major critical issues are: Physical and emotional fatigue; the presence of aloof and apathetic students, colleagues and interpersonal relationships; and feelings of frustration due to the non-implementation of their expectations [75][76][77]. Furthermore, the difficulties of young Sicilian teachers to securely enter a profession is a risk factor for establishing a personal and social identity, as well as for their mental health [78][79][80]; they may even impact one's awareness, especially because the principle on which postmodern society is based is the demonstration of the value of one's own resources [81].…”

Study Protocol of Brief Daily Body-Mind-Spirit Practice for Sustainable Emotional Capacity and Work Engagement for Community Mental Health Workers: A Multi-Site Randomized Controlled Trial

“…As symptom reduction approach has only demonstrated limited effects in the previous studies, positive outcomes and overall wellbeing needed to be included as the purpose of a workplace intervention (Ramaci et al, 2019). Fostering spiritual experience in daily life, as one of the positive-approach interventions showed encouraging potentials (Holland and Neimeyer, 2005).…”

Health Anxiety and Mental Health Outcome During COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy: The Mediating and Moderating Roles of Psychological Flexibility

“…We found no published theoretical or empirical data on either the mediating or moderating role of psychological flexibility in the link between health anxiety and mental health outcomes in general, or in the context of a pandemic. However, in the broader literature psychological flexibility has been examined as both a mediator and a moderator ( Masuda et al, 2011 ; Fischer et al, 2016 ; Novaes et al, 2018 ; Makriyianis et al, 2019 ; Ramaci et al, 2019 ; Pakenham et al, 2020 ). Studies that have examined psychological flexibility as a mediator have in the main tested models where the independent variable is typically a stable personality characteristic or a risk factor related to a personality trait (e.g., self-concealment, Masuda et al, 2011 ; early maladaptive schemas, Fischer et al, 2016 ; adverse childhood experiences, Makriyianis et al, 2019 ), and the dependent variable is a mental health outcome, most frequently depression or anxiety.…”

“…Alternatively, studies that have examined psychological flexibility as a moderator have mostly tested models where the independent variable is a contextual risk factor rather than a personality characteristic, including work stressors ( Ramaci et al, 2019 ), job demands ( Novaes et al, 2018 ), and COVID-19 risk factors ( Pakenham et al, 2020 ). Regarding the latter, psychological flexibility mitigated the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown risk factors on mental health via a moderation pathway.…”