Associations between mindful self-care practices and mental health outcomes among rural social workers

The current study of 150 rural Ohio social workers, surveyed from December 2020 to January 2021, examined the associations among depressive symptoms, stress, and mindful self-care. Results showed 25% screened positive for depressive symptoms, and 64% experienced moderate to high stress. Multiple regression analysis revealed that, among the six domains of mindful self-care, supportive structure (e.g. maintaining a manageable schedule) was the only domain statistically associated with lower levels of both depressive symptoms and perceived stress. The findings suggest that implementing mindful self-care activities in rural agencies could help improve the mental health status of rural social workers.