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Volume 13
Issue 19
10.3390/healthcare13192455
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Mindfulness Improves Awareness and Cortisol Levels During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Randomised Controlled Trial in Healthcare Workers

by
Anna Panzeri
1,
Ornella Bettinardi
2,
Fabio Giommi
3,
Maddalena Grassi
2,
Massimo Rossetti
2,
Pasqua Barile
2,
Barbara Del Bello
4 and
Concetta Gardi
4,*
1
Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
2
Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addiction, Piacenza Local Health Authority, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
3
NOUS-School of Specialization (PsyD) in Cognitive and Mindfulness-Oriented Psychotherapy, 20137 Milano, Italy
4
Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Healthcare 2025, 13(19), 2455; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13192455 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 28 July 2025 / Revised: 22 September 2025 / Accepted: 24 September 2025 / Published: 27 September 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, healthcare professionals (HCPs) faced extremely high levels of work-related stress, which negatively affected their mental health, job satisfaction, and patient care. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs can help mitigate these challenges. Method: A randomised controlled trial design was used to evaluate the effects of an 8-week MBSR intervention on stress-related outcomes among HCPs compared with a control group. The comprehensive assessment included cortisol levels, perceived stress, attention and awareness, emotional fatigue, and job strain. Results: The MBSR intervention significantly reduced cortisol levels in the short term and improved attention and awareness, with sustained benefits during follow-up. Medium to medium–large effect sizes were observed for job strain and emotional fatigue, although statistical significance was not achieved. Similarly, perceived stress showed negligible changes over time. The variability in stress responses highlights the importance of personalised approaches to mindfulness interventions. Discussion: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, MBSR is promising for improving attention and awareness and reducing physiological stress markers in HCPs, although its effects on other occupational outcomes remain uncertain. Future research should focus on longer interventions to maximise the benefits of mindfulness practices in healthcare settings.
Keywords: attention and awareness; clinical psychology; mindfulness; randomized controlled trial; stress biomarkers attention and awareness; clinical psychology; mindfulness; randomized controlled trial; stress biomarkers

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Panzeri, A.; Bettinardi, O.; Giommi, F.; Grassi, M.; Rossetti, M.; Barile, P.; Del Bello, B.; Gardi, C. Mindfulness Improves Awareness and Cortisol Levels During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Randomised Controlled Trial in Healthcare Workers. Healthcare 2025, 13, 2455. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13192455

AMA Style

Panzeri A, Bettinardi O, Giommi F, Grassi M, Rossetti M, Barile P, Del Bello B, Gardi C. Mindfulness Improves Awareness and Cortisol Levels During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Randomised Controlled Trial in Healthcare Workers. Healthcare. 2025; 13(19):2455. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13192455

Chicago/Turabian Style

Panzeri, Anna, Ornella Bettinardi, Fabio Giommi, Maddalena Grassi, Massimo Rossetti, Pasqua Barile, Barbara Del Bello, and Concetta Gardi. 2025. "Mindfulness Improves Awareness and Cortisol Levels During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Randomised Controlled Trial in Healthcare Workers" Healthcare 13, no. 19: 2455. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13192455

APA Style

Panzeri, A., Bettinardi, O., Giommi, F., Grassi, M., Rossetti, M., Barile, P., Del Bello, B., & Gardi, C. (2025). Mindfulness Improves Awareness and Cortisol Levels During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Randomised Controlled Trial in Healthcare Workers. Healthcare, 13(19), 2455. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13192455

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