Gender Gap in Mindfulness Assessment Among Italian Nurses: A Pilot Descriptive Study

Abstract

"Purpose: The present study aimed to explore gender differences in the mindfulness tendency, specifically in the awareness and attention dimensions and also in the observing, describing, acting with awareness and accepting without judgement in Italian nurses. Methods: In June 2020 an on-line questionnaire was administered to nurses in order to analyze any differences both in the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS) according to gender variable. Findings: 200 questionnaires were collected. Findings showed significant higher MAAS total score in males than females (p=.004). Additionally, by considering the four sub dimensions in the Mindfulness tendency, females reported significant higher levels in some items of “Observe” (p=.004) and “Act with awareness” (p=.001) than males, while males reported significant higher scores in the “Accept without judgement” than females (p<.001). Conclusions: The present study was a pilot research on exploring gender differences in mindfulness in Italian nurses in order to hope that it will be only the beginning of empirical research on this topic and to better address future mindfulness training courses addressed to nurses by emphasizing certain aspects of mindfulness for females compared to males and vice versa."