Building Compassionate Schools: Pilot Study of a Compassionate Mind Training Intervention to Promote Teachers’ Well-being

Mounting research has supported the beneficial effects of compassion-based interventions for improving psychosocial and physiological well-being mental health. Teachers present a high risk professional stress, which negatively impacts their health performance. It is crucial to make compassion cultivation focus in educational settings, supporting teachers coping with school context’s challenges, promoting well-being. This study aims test feasibility Compassionate Mind Training programme (CMT-T), as well preliminary explore possible mechanisms change. Participants were 31 from one public centre region Portugal, who underwent CMT-T, six-module group intervention teachers. Feasibility was assessed six domains (acceptability, implementation, practicality, adaptation, integration, effectiveness), using self-reports, overall assessment, attrition, attendance, home practice. Using pre-post within-subject design, changes self-reported psychological distress, burnout, well-being, compassion, self-criticism. Mediation analysis repeated measures designs used The CMT-T feasible all domains. revealed significant decreases depression, fears others, increases self-compassion, others’ motivations actions after intervention. When self-criticism controlled, burnout satisfaction life, also found. Fears others mediated impact on teachers’ self-compassion effect pilot provides evidence that may be effective compassionate motivations, attributes, towards themselves These promising findings warrant further investigation within randomized controlled trial.