Mindfulness and self-compassion mediate increased psychological wellbeing in penitentiary officers with a mental training based on mindfulness, ethics and compassion.

Numerous studies alarm about stressfulness of penitentiary working environment and consequent mental health issues. To aid this problem an integrated mindfulness, ethics and compassion training program was implemented. Its efficacy on the well-being improvement was measured by four markers: general health, satisfaction with life, affect (both positive and negative) and anxiety. Additionally, a mediating role of mindfulness and self-compassion was explored. The results revealed that after the course participant’s anxiety and negative affect decreased, while positive affect and satisfaction with life increased. These improvements in wellbeing were mediated by both mindfulness and self-compassion.