Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy for Nurses: Difficulties in Emotion Regulation, Burnout, and Psychological Flexibility
NCT ID: NCT06706505
Last Updated: 2025-12-31
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
44 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-12-01
2025-06-05
Brief Summary
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Does MBAT reduce the burnout levels of nurses working in the earthquake-affected region? Does MBAT reduce the emotional regulation difficulties of nurses working in the earthquake-affected region? Does MBAT increase the psychological resilience levels of nurses working in the earthquake-affected region? Researchers plan to compare the intervention group where MBAT is applied and the control group where no intervention is applied to see the effects of MBAT on nurses.
Participants :
The intervention group will receive MBAT once a week for 5 weeks. The control group will receive MBAT again after the application is completed, if they are willing.
Follow-up tests will be administered before the intervention, after it is completed, and at the 3rd and 6th months."\*\*
Detailed Description
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Nurses constantly encounter patients experiencing pain, loss, and difficulties. This can lead to emotional burnout and decreased job satisfaction among nurses. Studies have shown that difficulties in emotion regulation and low psychological flexibility contribute to burnout, depersonalization, and emotional exhaustion in nurses. On the other hand, emotion regulation training and the development of psychological flexibility skills can effectively reduce occupational stress for nurses.
Psychological flexibility is defined as the ability to cope with challenges, adapt to changing circumstances, and accept negative emotional experiences. Psychological flexibility enables individuals to better adapt to life's difficulties and improve their overall well-being. For individuals working under constant stress, such as nurses, psychological flexibility is crucial for job satisfaction, quality of life, and overall health.
Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) is a therapeutic approach aimed at developing emotional awareness, acceptance, mental focus, and emotional regulation skills. Combining art therapy and mindfulness techniques, MBAT can help nurses cope with emotional challenges, reduce stress levels, enhance psychological flexibility, and improve overall well-being.
Nurses' emotional regulation and psychological flexibility skills are crucial for both their own psychological well-being and the quality of care they provide. Difficulties in emotion regulation and low psychological flexibility can lead to burnout and other negative consequences. Therapeutic approaches such as Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) offer promising solutions to support nurses' emotional health and create more sustainable professional lives.
Study Design: This study is a randomized controlled trial with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design. It aims to determine the effects of mindfulness-based art therapy on nurses' difficulties in emotion regulation, burnout, and psychological flexibility.
Study Setting and Characteristics: The study will be conducted at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practices and Research Hospital, located in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. This center provides services in various departments, including internal medicine, surgery, oncology, and psychiatry, with separate units for children and adults. Nurses at this center primarily work in inpatient units, intensive care units, operating rooms, and emergency departments. Their work schedules include both day shifts and rotating shifts.
Population and Sample: The study population consists of all nurses working at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practices and Research Hospital. Based on information obtained from the institution, the total number of nurses is 500. The sample will include nurses who meet the inclusion criteria. To determine the sample size, the G\*Power program was used. The effect size was calculated based on a similar study in the literature. With an alpha level of 0.05, a power of 0.95, and an effect size of 1.109189, the total sample size was calculated to be 38 (19 in the intervention group and 19 in the control group). Considering a potential dropout rate of 10-20% as reported in previous studies, the sample size was increased by 20%, resulting in a final sample size of 23 nurses in each group.
Pilot Study: Prior to the main study, a pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of a structured mindfulness-based art therapy intervention. A group of eight volunteer nurses from the outpatient clinics and polyclinics of Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practices and Research Hospital participated in this pilot intervention.
Study Implementation: The main study will be conducted at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practices and Research Hospital following the pilot study. Before the intervention, both the intervention and control groups will be administered the Participant Information Form once, and the Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale (Short Form), the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Psychological Flexibility Scale three times (pre-test: one week before the MBAT, post-test: one week after the MBAT, follow-up: 3 and 6 months after the MBAT). Following the pre-test, a 5-session MBAT will be initiated for the intervention group. Considering the effectiveness of the intervention and the characteristics of psychological counseling groups, the intervention group will be divided into subgroups. Each subgroup will receive the intervention on different days or times within the same week. After the intervention period and post-test, the MBAT will be applied to the control group.
Data Analysis: Data collected from the study will be analyzed using International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) V23. To assess normality, the Shapiro-Wilk test will be used. For normally distributed data, independent samples t-test and paired samples t-test will be employed. For non-normally distributed data, the Mann-Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test will be used. The relationship between variables will be examined using Spearman correlation analysis. Data will be presented as mean and standard deviation for normally distributed data and median and range for non-normally distributed data. Categorical data will be analyzed using the chi-square test and presented as frequencies and percentages.
Ethical Considerations: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of Gazi University (dated 16.04.2024, number 07) and the relevant departments of Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practices and Research Hospital. Permission to use the data collection tools was obtained via email from the authors who conducted the validity and reliability studies. Before the study began, participants were provided with detailed information about the study's purpose, procedures, and expected outcomes. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant in the pre-test, intervention, and control groups. The researcher conducting the study possesses the necessary qualifications and certifications to implement the intervention.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
SINGLE
Study Groups
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Mindfulness based art therapy
Prior to the MBAT intervention, data collection forms were administered and randomization was performed. Following the pre-test, participants in this group will attend weekly MBAT sessions for five weeks. Post-intervention, data collection forms will be administered again. Subsequent follow-up assessments will be conducted at 3 and 6 months.
Mindfulness-based art therapy
MBAT combines art therapy and mindfulness to promote self-awareness and emotional well-being. It uses art to express thoughts and feelings, while cultivating mindfulness skills. MBAT addresses stress, anxiety, and emotional regulation. Grounded in research, it's an effective therapeutic approach.
The mindfulness-based art therapy sessions were designed based on the literature, drawing on the researches. By integrating art therapy techniques and mindfulness practices, the sessions were developed. Expert opinions were sought from specialists in the field to ensure the content validity of the sessions, and necessary adjustments were made accordingly. The MBAT application consists of five sessions in total. Each session has a specific theme and is designed to last 90-120 minutes.
Therapy waiting list
Following the pre-test and randomization, the control group will receive follow-up assessments concurrently with the intervention group at predetermined intervals (post-intervention, 3 months, and 6 months). Upon completion of the research, the participants assigned to the control group will undergo the MBAT intervention.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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Mindfulness-based art therapy
MBAT combines art therapy and mindfulness to promote self-awareness and emotional well-being. It uses art to express thoughts and feelings, while cultivating mindfulness skills. MBAT addresses stress, anxiety, and emotional regulation. Grounded in research, it's an effective therapeutic approach.
The mindfulness-based art therapy sessions were designed based on the literature, drawing on the researches. By integrating art therapy techniques and mindfulness practices, the sessions were developed. Expert opinions were sought from specialists in the field to ensure the content validity of the sessions, and necessary adjustments were made accordingly. The MBAT application consists of five sessions in total. Each session has a specific theme and is designed to last 90-120 minutes.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* To voluntarily agree to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria
* To have a condition that would prevent them from actively participating in the sessions, comprehending the scales, and completing them.
* To fail to attend two consecutive study sessions for any reason
* To voluntarily withdraw from the study at any time
18 Years
65 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Mehtap Ağaç
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Mehtap Ağaç
PhD
Principal Investigators
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Mehtap Ağaç, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University
Sultan Ayaz Alkaya, Professor
Role: STUDY_CHAIR
Gazi University
Locations
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Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University
Kahramanmaraş, Onikişubat, Turkey (Türkiye)
Countries
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References
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Bjureberg J, Ljotsson B, Tull MT, Hedman E, Sahlin H, Lundh LG, Bjarehed J, DiLillo D, Messman-Moore T, Gumpert CH, Gratz KL. Development and Validation of a Brief Version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale: The DERS-16. J Psychopathol Behav Assess. 2016 Jun;38(2):284-296. doi: 10.1007/s10862-015-9514-x. Epub 2015 Sep 14.
Ergin C. Doktor ve hemsirelerde tukenmislik ve Maslach tukenmislik olceginin uyarlanmasi. VII. Ulusal Psikoloji Kongresi, 22th September 1992. Ankara (Turkey).
Maslach C, Jackson SE. Maslach Burnout Inventory--ES Form (MBI). 1981. https://doi.org/10.1037/t05190-000
Francis AW, Dawson DL, & Golijani-Moghaddam N. The development and validation of the Comprehensive assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy processes (CompACT). Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. 2016: 5(3): 134-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2016.05.003
Karakuş S, Akbay SE. Psychological Flexibility Scale: Adaptation, Validity and Reliability Study. Mersin University Journal of the Faculty of Education. 2020: 16(1): 32-43. https://doi.org/10.17860/mersinefd.665406
Yiğit İ, Guzey Yiğit, M. Psychometric Properties of Turkish Version of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Brief Form (DERS-16). Current Psychology. 2019: 38: 1503-1511. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9712-7.
Gratz, KL, Roemer, L. Multidimensional Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Dysregulation: Development, Factor Structure, and Initial Validation of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. 2004: 26: 41-54. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOBA.0000007455.08539.94
Other Identifiers
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GAZI-HEM-MA-01
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id