The effect of mindfulness-based psycho education on beliefs, social distance and stigmatization towards mental i̇llness among nursing students: A quasi-experimental study

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mindfulness-based psychoeducation on nursing students' beliefs, social distance, and stigmatization towards mental illnesses. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with an intervention and a control group. Nursing students in their second year at Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Nursing (n=84) voluntarily participated between October 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024. The intervention group received mindfulness-based psychoeducation, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were collected throught he Beliefs Toward Mental Illness Scale (BMIS), Social Distance Scale (SDS), and Mental Illness Stigma Scale for Healthcare Providers (MISS-HP) using pre-test, post-test, and follow-up measurements at the first and third months. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, and Friedman test. Results: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention on health professionals' beliefs and attitudes toward mental illness. At baseline, no statistically significant difference was observed between the intervention and control groups in terms of the Beliefs Toward Mental Illness Scale (BMIS) scores (χ² = 7,395, p = 0,060). Although a slight change was detected in the intervention group's post-intervention belief scores, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0,05). However, significant findings emerged from the Social Distance Scale (SDS): the intervention group showed a notable decrease in mean scores (χ² = 8,557, p = 0,036), with reductions observed from pre-test (X̄ = 51.56 ± 15,07) to post-test (X̄ = 42,33 ± 22,89), further declining at the 1st month (X̄ = 36,36 ± 13,40) and remaining stable at the 3rd month (X̄ = 50,53 ± 13,74), indicating both an immediate and sustained reduction in social distance. No statistically significant change was noted in the control group (p > 0,05). Similarly, scores on the Healthcare Workers' Stigmatization Toward Mental Illness Scale (MISS-HP) decreased significantly in the intervention group (χ² = 13.553, p = 0,004), with mean scores shifting from pre-test (X̄ = 57,96 ± 8,66) to post-test (X̄ = 58,13 ± 13,72), and showing a marked reduction at the 1st month (X̄ = 44,20 ± 5,81) and 3rd month (X̄ = 48,27 ± 11,62). However, significant change in stigmatization became more prominent at the 3rd month rather than immediately post-intervention. These findings suggest that educational interventions may effectively reduce stigma and social distance toward mental illness among healthcare workers, with delayed but sustained impact. Conclusion: In this study, it was concluded that mindfulness-based psychoeducation has a gradual and sustainable effect in reducing perceived social distance and stigma; however, it does not have a significant short-term impact on changing beliefs about mental illnesses.