The Mindful Helping and Self-Care Model: Mindful Self-Care and Quality of Life Among a Racially Balanced Sample of Helping Professionals

This study explored the Mindful Helping and Self-Care model and validated the Mindful Self-Care Scale (MSCS) among three racially balanced samples of helping professionals (n = 1,534). The study employed a cross-sectional, self-report design. The racial representation of participants was American Indian (n = 68), Asian (n = 351), African American (n = 384), Latino (n = 325), White (n = 301), and other (n = 114). The MSCS (33 items) showed good internal structure and measurement invariance to support generalizability across the three groups studied. With parsimony for application development, the Brief-MSCS (24 items) had a stronger internal structure across the three groups. Mindful self-care and secondary traumatic stress mediated the relationship between burnout and compassion satisfaction, as the total effects were greater than the direct effects. Mindful self-care practices were associated with reduced burnout risk. Mediation analysis results supported the Mindful Helping and Self-Care model. The empirical foundation for the 33-item MSCS and 24-item Brief-MSCS is further supported in this study. Both are excellent instruments for measuring mindful self-care factors in helping professionals using a behavioral frequency approach in a weekly time context. The Brief-MSCS is a more concise measure, making it particularly useful for application development. The reliability, construct, and concurrent validity of the MSCS and Brief-MSCS were confirmed. Mind-body practice is self-care; expressions vary by racial group and are associated with overall wellness. Future research should focus on professionals and cultures outside North America.