Introduction:

While a number of research studies have shown that mindfulness influences perceived stress, there is a lack of research that have tested the relationship between emotional regulation, mindfulness and perceived stress, specifically in those health workers who work in intensive care units.

Objective:

Test relationship between mindfulness and perceived stress in health workers of public and private hospitals in Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ecuador, in order to identify whether this relationship is mediated by emotional regulation.

Method:

A quantitative study of descriptive correlational scope and cross-sectional design was carried out, where a questionnaire consisting of 39 questions taken from three psychosomatic scales was applied to 382 health care workers in intensive care units of the aforementioned institutions. Variables used were as follow: mindfulness, emotional regulation and perceived stress. Statistical analyses were structured using two specialized softwares Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences 21.

Results:

Statistical analyses showed that mindfulness influenced perceived stress (β=0.428**), and also emotional regulation (β=0.488**), at the same time, emotional regulation influenced perceived stress (β=0.417**).

Conclusions:

It was corroborated that emotional regulation played a mediating effect between mindfulness and perceived stress felt by the health care workers who work in intensive care units. Frequently, these personnel develop activities without mindfulness, however, they have control over their work activities and are able to regulate and hide emotions that may arise in their work environment and, in this way, reduce the risks of suffering stress.

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