The Relationship Between Mindfulness and Styles of Coping with Stress and Depression in Emergency Medicine Residents Working in İstanbul

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between mindfulness and coping styles with stress and depression in emergency medicine residents (EMR).
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was used a socio-demographic data form, the mindful attention awareness scale (MAAS), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and the ways of coping with stress inventory. After defining mindfulness levels among physicians, univariate and multivariate logistic regression tests were used to explore its effect on depression.
Results: A total of 207 EMR residents were enrolled in the study. According to the cut-off level of BDI score (≥17), 83 (40.1%) of the participants had depression requiring treatment. Mean MAAS scores were significantly lower in the group with depression than the group without depression (median scores: 56 vs. 36, p=0.000). The multivariate logistic analysis disclosed that MAAS score was negatively associated with depression. Among ways of coping with stress, scores for self-confident, helpless, and submissive approaches were significantly higher in the group with depression than in those without depression (p=0.000 for all).
Conclusion: In addition to high depression rates, a significant relationship was observed between mindfulness and depression in EM residents. These findings suggest the potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing the depression levels of EM residents.

Keywords: Emergency medicine residents, mindfulness, depression, stress, coping with stress