Negative affect and psychotic-like experiences in social workers: mechanisms and the buffering role of mindfulness - Report - MDSpire

Negative affect and psychotic-like experiences in social workers: mechanisms and the buffering role of mindfulness

  • By

  • Airu Chen

  • RuiZhong Zhu

  • Tan Fuqiang

  • Yaozu Shen

  • July 3, 2026

  • 0 min

Share

Clinical Report: The Relationship Between Negative Emotions and Psychotic-like Experiences in Social Workers

Overview

This study investigates the relationship between negative emotions and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) among social workers, highlighting the mediating roles of cognitive exhaustion and loneliness.

Background

Occupational mental health is crucial in social work, a field characterized by high emotional labor. This study addresses a gap in the literature regarding the mechanisms through which negative emotions influence PLEs.

Data Highlights

FindingResult
Sample Size580 social workers
Hypotheses Supported12 out of 12
Negative Emotion and PLEsDirect correlation reported
Mediating FactorsCognitive Exhaustion, Rumination, Ego Depletion, Loneliness
Mindfulness EffectReported to weaken associations with PLEs

Key Findings

  • Negative Emotion is linked to PLEs.
  • Cognitive Exhaustion and Rumination are associated with PLEs.
  • Ego Depletion and Loneliness mediate the relationship between Negative Emotion and PLEs.
  • Mindfulness is reported to reduce the impact of negative emotions on PLEs.
  • The study extends the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory into occupational subclinical psychopathology.

Clinical Implications

Social work agencies should consider implementing emotional support systems and mindfulness training to help mitigate the risks associated with negative emotions and PLEs. This approach could enhance the well-being of social workers and improve service delivery.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the importance of addressing negative emotions in social work to prevent psychotic-like experiences, emphasizing the role of mindfulness as a protective factor.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2026 -- The dual pathways of emotional labor in psychiatric nursing: the adaptive and maladaptive emotional strategies
  2. BMC Psychiatry (Springer), 2025 -- “As if we didn’t exist” – A participatory reflexive thematic analysis on next of kins’ experiences of their interactions with the psychiatric health care system in Germany
  3. BMC Psychiatry (Springer), 2026 -- The Impact of Stress on Delusional Thoughts in Postgraduate Medical Students: Exploring Anxiety, Depression, and the Influence of Trait Impulsivity
  4. Attenuated psychosis syndrome - UpToDate
  5. Guidelines for the prevention of psychosis from the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and EPI Canada
  6. BMC Psychiatry (Springer) — Psychological Factors Associated with Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Women Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Analysis to Guide Mindfulness-Based Treatments
  7. Attenuated psychosis syndrome - UpToDate
  8. Full article: Guidelines for the prevention of psychosis from the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and EPI Canada
  9. Mindfulness-based group therapy for auditory hallucination management in schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial - PubMed

Original Source(s)

Related Content