Mindfulness-based Self-processing Intervention to Reduce Symptoms of Burnout and Increase Psychological Well-being of College Students: A Pilot Study

Pages: 136-141
Joy O. Thuruthel and Joy R. Tungol (The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines)

Burnout garnered significant global attention and World Health Organization has recently included it in the 11th edition of ICD. Burnout adversely influenced students’ overall functioning and performance. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of an intervention program to reduce the symptoms of burnout and improve the well-being of college students. Conklin’s program development model was utilized as a method in the development and testing of intervention. Study Burnout Inventory (SBI) and Ryff’s Scale of Psychological Well-being (RSPW) were employed as the research instruments. Interviews and focus group discussions were carried out to acquire an in-depth understanding of the issues of students. Mindfulness-based cognitive theory and positive psychotherapy were integrated into the intervention development. The intervention program was evaluated by interdisciplinary experts before the pilot study. The seven modular Mindfulness-based Self-processing Intervention (MSI) program administered in five weeks on a three hours session per module showed a statistically significant difference between the pre and post-test scores of the participants. The pilot study using MSI resulted in reducing burnout leading to enhancement of psychological wellbeing. The study confirmed that the concepts and the structure of the modules of Intervention are reliable and viable for testing on a larger group of students with symptoms of burnout.