Values clarification work in a mindfulness- and acceptance - based intervention

Abstract

This thesis was a part of a research project called “The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Practices in the Recovery of Burnout” (Muupu). The goal of the project was to relieve symptoms of burnout by exercising mindfulness-, acceptance- and values-based practices with a short term intervention. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the role of values clarification work during the intervention. It was presumed that the intervention will lead change into positive direction, so that negative symptoms decrease and positive factors connected to mindfulness- and acceptance-based skills increase and values clarification work mediates the change.

The 73 participants were 29-59 years old with the majority of women and were in the highest 25 percent of burnout level measured by Bergen Burnout Indicator 15. Repeated measures t-tests were conducted in order to investigate the effect of intervention and mediation analysis to detect the effect of values work on this change. The burnout, stress levels and the occurrence and believing in automatic negative thoughts decreased, and flexibility, mindfulness skills and ability to work increased. The values mediated the change of psychological flexibility during the intervention when the background variables (gender, age and education) were controlled. There was no mediation effect for other measures. Our results support the view that it would be relevant to emphasize the values clarification work in clinical field.