Mindfulness Interventions for Depression and Anxiety in Social Workers - A Literature Review

By Andrea Valenzuela

Master of Social Work Candidate, University of South Florida

Abstract

Depression and anxiety are critical mental health concerns in the social work profession, yet research specific to social workers remains limited. This paper explores the presence of depression and anxiety in social workers, drawing on existing literature that links these conditions to burnout. While burnout is not the focus of this paper, it is discussed as a contributing factor supported by empirical evidence. The paper reviews mindfulness-based interventions, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and tailored adaptations, as the most promising evidence-based approaches for reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Studies targeting social workers internationally are evaluated, and recommendations are made for expanding research, improving access to interventions, and integrating mindfulness into social work education and training. The goal is to promote earlier identification and more effective support for social workers struggling with depression and anxiety.

Introduction

The risk of burnout among social workers has been widely studied and documented (Ratcliff, 2024). Burnout is referenced here solely to provide supporting evidence for the emergence of depression and anxiety symptoms in social workers. Burnout has been shown to overlap significantly with symptoms of depression and anxiety, suggesting that social workers may be at increased risk for these mental health conditions (Ahola & Hakanen, 2007; Schonfeld & Bianchi, 2016). However, the prevalence and impact of depression and anxiety specifically within the social work population remain underexplored in the literature. Much of what is known comes from burnout studies, where evidence of depression and anxiety emerges as part of the broader picture of occupational stress. For instance, the transactional model of burnout describes three progressive stages: 1) an imbalance between work demands and personal resources, 2) emotional strain—including symptoms of exhaustion and anxiety, and 3) defensive coping, such as detachment or cynicism (Maslach & Leiter, 2016). Anxiety appears as a recognized emotional symptom in this model. 

Connection Between Depression and Burnout

Much more concrete evidence exists regarding burnouts correlation with depression. One study across the United States of 1,386 schoolteachers found significant overlap in the prevelance of burnout and depression, and factors contributing to both conditions (Schonfeld & Bianchi, 2016).  Similarly, in a sample of 2,555 dentists, burnout was shown to predict depressive symptoms (Hakanen & Schaufeli, 2012). Ahola and Hakanen (2007) provided further evidence of a reciprocal relationship between burnout and depression, suggesting that burnout may be an early stage of work-related depression. Other studies have found similar results in disability support workers and medical students (Mutkins et al., 2011; West et al., 2016).

More recent research provides further evidence of the connection between occupational stress in the social work field and depression and anxiety. In a study of 121 social workers in Northern Ireland, perceived stress and emotional exhaustion significantly predicted anxiety, while perceived stress and low personal accomplishment predicted depression and lower mental well-being (Maddock, 2024).

Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety in Social Workers

The study conducted by Maddock et al. (2024) found that 37.2% of social workers reported moderate to severe anxiety and 24% reported mild to severe symptoms of depression. This study supports the idea that stress and burnout are not only occupational concerns but also strong predictors of depression and anxiety in the social work field. Finally, a three-year longitudinal study of 406 registered social workers in California revealed that approximately 32.6% of social workers experienced moderate burnout, while 31.9% experienced high levels of burnout, based on scores from the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Kim et al., 2011).

Impact Factors

While burnout is not the central focus of this paper, the existing research on burnout provides valuable evidence of the underlying psychological distress affecting social workers, including depression and anxiety. To address these concerns, it is important to examine the specific conditions within the profession that contribute to mental health risks. According to burnout researchers, there are six factors which increase vulnerability to burnout: workload, control, reward, community, fairness, and values (Maslach & Leiter, 2016). These same stressors are likely contributors to the development of depression and anxiety in social workers.

In social work, workload is often unmanageable due to high caseloads and excessive documentation requirements. Control is limited, as social workers frequently operate under rigid policies and clients have the right to self-determination. Reward, both financial and emotional, is frequently insufficient and many social workers report feeling undervalued, despite the emotional labor and complexity of their roles. Fairness concerns emerge when workers observe inequities in resource access, systemic biases, or disciplinary practices within agencies. Finally, value conflicts are prevalent, as social workers are required to follow a code of ethics but  may be required to implement policies that conflict with their ethical beliefs or the best interests of their clients. The social work field hosts the perfect imbalances for burnout, and as the literature increasingly shows, burnout may be a precursor to clinical depression and anxiety.

Given the increasing awareness of burnout as a risk factor for depression and anxiety in social workers, it is essential to identify and evaluate interventions that target these mental health concerns. Among the available approaches, mindfulness-based interventions have gained the most empirical support for both burnout reduction and the improvement of depression anxiety. The following section will explore the effectiveness of MBSR, MBCT, and their adaptations for social work populations.

Interventions

Mindfulness-Based Interventions

         There is limited research that specifically addresses depression and anxiety in social workers, and an even greater gap when it comes to evaluating interventions that prevent or treat these conditions. Despite this, systematic reviews of interventions for social worker burnout consistently highlight mindfulness-based approaches as the most promising (Bryce et al., 2024; Griffiths et al., 2019). Most of the available research includes burnout as a primary outcome, with anxiety and depression as secondary measures (Bryce et al., 2024; Griffiths et al., 2019).

What is Mindfulness?

              The origin of mindfulness dates back to first-century Buddhist texts and is a translation of the Pali word for mindfulness—sati. It is also linked to one of the essential elements of Buddhism called Right Mindfulness: “being aware of the present moment, cultivating inner calm and wisdom, not being disturbed by thoughts of past or future” with the goal of achieving enlightenment and alleviating suffering (Ji, 2023).  

In clinical settings, John Kabat-Zinn, the creator of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), operationally defines mindfulness as “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment” (Kabat-Zinn, 2003). The National Institute of Health operationally defines mindfulness as a process that leads to a mental state characterized by nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment experience, including one’s sensations, thoughts, bodily states, consciousness, and the environment, while encouraging openness, curiosity, and acceptance (Bishop et al., 2004).

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy

Since the first century, mindfulness has gained growing popularity and has become the basis of two well-established mindfulness interventions, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). Both have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression across diverse populations (Hofmann & Gómez, 2017). Additionally, they have been found to be as effective as some antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications, with fewer physical side effects and lower costs (Kuyken et al., 2015; Hoge et al., 2023).

         MBSR and MBCT are both third-wave cognitive-behavioral approaches that integrate principles from Eastern philosophy and Western psychology. Similar to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), their goal is not to eliminate difficult thoughts or emotions but to increase emotional awareness and regulation, cognitive flexibility, and behavior aligned with personal values (Hofmann & Gómez, 2017). These interventions go a step further by cultivating present-moment attention, compassion, and intentional action, helping participants respond rather than react to internal and external stressors.

         Both MBSR and MBCT typically involve eight weekly sessions lasting approximately 2.5 hours, a full-day retreat, and daily home practice. MBCT, created by Segal et al. (2002), builds directly on the MBSR curriculum and focuses specifically on the prevention of depressive relapse and the management of mood-related symptoms.

Adaptations for Social Workers

Several adaptations of MBSR and MBCT have been made for social workers internationally. In Turkey, Hosseinzadeh Asl (2022) implemented a brief MBCT program consisting of four 70-minute weekly sessions and 10–20 minutes of daily home meditation. Although the sample was small (n=20), participants reported reductions in depressive symptoms. The study used a pre-post design but lacked long-term follow-up, limiting the strength of its conclusions.

In China, Wang et al. (2025) tested a video-based, instructor-led mindfulness program for frontline social workers. The live online format significantly reduced burnout symptoms, with statistically significant improvements reported across multiple dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. While the study focused on burnout, it also noted improvements in psychological well-being, suggesting potential relevance for anxiety and depression.

Another study conducted with healthcare professionals found that using a mobile mindfulness app (Headspace) for just four weeks led to reduced anxiety and improved stress management (Xu et al., 2021). While this study did not focus on social workers specifically, it supports the feasibility of digital mindfulness tools for professionals in high-stress roles.

Mindfulness Based Social Work and Self Care

         MBSWSC is a six-week online program designed specifically for social workers. It combines guided mindfulness practices with profession-specific content, such as role plays and didactic material. The intervention draws on cognitive-behavioral theory and the Clinically Modified Buddhist Psychological Model (CMBPM), grounding it in both evidence-based practice and cultural philosophy (Maddock et al., 2022).

Initial findings from a study in Northern Ireland suggest that MBSWSC is more effective in reducing depression and anxiety than brief mindfulness interventions (Maddock et al., 2022). The program includes live instruction, structured exercises, and home practice. A sample of the MBSWSC curriculum is included in Appendix A. While these findings are promising, it is important to note that the research has only been conducted by the original developers and has not yet been widely replicated.

Implications

Ethical Responsibility and Professional Well-Being

Social workers are often expected to serve high-need populations while navigating limited resources, structural barriers, and low compensation. These challenges are known contributors to poor mental health (Kim et al., 2011; Maddock, 2024). Although there is growing recognition of burnout in the field, the connection between burnout and clinical mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety is still underexplored.

The NASW Code of Ethics emphasizes that social workers have a professional responsibility to care for their own mental health and engage in self-care to avoid impairment. Specifically, Ethical Standard 4.05 – Impairment states that social workers should not allow their own mental health difficulties or psychosocial distress to interfere with their professional performance or client well-being (NASW, n.d.). However, the lack of research and formal attention to the high rates of depression and anxiety among social workers suggests that this ethical standard is not being fully supported at a systems level. If burnout is clearly linked to these clinical outcomes, then more must be done to address the gap in research, interventions, and policy aimed at protecting social workers’ well-being.

Gaps in Intervention Literature

What is even more concerning is the lack of effective, evidence-based interventions specifically designed for social workers experiencing depression and anxiety (Griffiths et al., 2019). Mindfulness-based interventions are the most promising for addressing these symptoms across a variety of populations (Bryce et al., 2024), and some studies have adapted these interventions for social workers internationally (Hosseinzadeh Asl, 2022; Wang et al., 2025). However, there are currently no published studies focused on treating depression and anxiety in social workers within the United States.

The Mindfulness-Based Social Work and Self-Care (MBSWSC) program appears to be a promising model (Maddock et al., 2022). It was designed specifically for social workers and has shown effectiveness in reducing anxiety and depression, but to date, it has only been studied by the original research team. More replication studies are needed to understand its broader applicability. That said, the intervention is grounded in cognitive behavioral theory and mindfulness practice, which are both supported by a strong evidence base and align with current best practices.

Education

Some studies have begun introducing mindfulness-based interventions into classroom settings or as part of graduate-level training (Griffiths et al., 2019). This direction is especially promising. Integrating mindfulness and self-care practices into social work education could support students before they begin practicing, helping them build habits that reduce emotional strain and prevent long-term mental health challenges. Addressing these concerns early may reduce the likelihood of depression and anxiety as students transition into the workforce.

Policy and Future Research

There is a clear need for leadership from organizations like the NASW and CSWE to address the gap in research and intervention surrounding social workers' experiences of depression and anxiety. This includes advocating for more studies that explore the connection between occupational stress, burnout, and the development of depression and anxiety, as well as supporting the development, implementation, and dissemination of effective interventions. These organizations should also push for mindfulness-based education to be integrated into undergraduate and graduate social work programs, and included in licensure preparation, as a preventative measure for new social workers entering the field.

Although burnout research has identified specific workplace factors such as workload, control, reward, community, fairness, and value conflict, future research should also examine how these same stressors may directly contribute to symptoms of depression and anxiety in social workers (Maslach & Leiter, 2016). In addition, research should explore which social workers are most affected, when symptoms are most likely to emerge, and which occupational stressors most strongly contribute to these outcomes. This knowledge could strengthen current interventions and support the development of more targeted, effective tools to protect social workers from depression and anxiety.

Additionally, future studies should address current methodological limitations. Many existing studies rely on small sample sizes or lack long-term follow-up, making it difficult to generalize findings or assess sustainability of treatment effects. Interventions like MBSWSC have only been tested by the original research team and need replication across diverse populations. Addressing these gaps would improve the overall strength and applicability of the evidence base.

Conclusion

Social workers face unique mental health risks that are often overlooked in the literature. While burnout has received substantial attention, its documented relationship to depression and anxiety calls for a deeper focus on these clinical outcomes in social workers themselves. This review highlights that although some research exists, there remains a significant gap in both the understanding and treatment of depression and anxiety in this population. Mindfulness-based interventions, particularly MBSR, MBCT, and MBSWSC, have emerged as promising, evidence-based approaches that deserve further exploration, replication, and application within social work settings. Moving forward, increased research, education, and policy efforts are needed to protect the well-being of social workers and ensure that they are equipped not only to support others, but also to care for themselves.

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