Mindfulness Training Reduces Stress At Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Mindfulness Practice Reduces Hair Cortisol, Anxiety and Perceived Stress in University Workers: Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Anxiety and stress are common mental health conditions reported by university workers. Practices of mindfulness represent one promising approach as an effective and feasible means to reduce stress, improve mental health and promote well-being; however, there are no clinical trials that have combined long-term stress biomarkers (hair cortisol) and psychometric assessments in a sample of university workers.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based program on long-term stress, by measuring hair cortisol concentration and perceived stress and anxiety among workers who were undergoing high levels of stress.

METHOD

We conducted a randomized clinical trial at work among the employees of a public university. We compared a group that received the eight-week mindfulness intervention with the wait list group who received no intervention.

RESULTS

A total of 30 participants were included in the study, with n = 15 subjects in the intervention group and n = 15 in the control group. Hair cortisol, perceived stress and anxiety significantly reduced after the intervention compared to the control group, which had no appreciable decline in the measured variables.

CONCLUSION

This clinical trial showed the effectiveness of a mindfulness program on mental health psychometric measures (perceived stress and anxiety) and on a long-term stress biomarker (hair cortisol). It can be concluded that an eight-week mindfulness program could be implemented as an effective strategy to reduce stress biomarkers (hair cortisol) as well as perceived stress and anxiety, improving the mental health of university workers.

Mindfulness-Based and Mindfulness-Informed Interventions at the Workplace: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis of RCTs

Objectives

Positive effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on occupational health have been demonstrated by several systematic review studies during the last two decades. So far, existing reviews excluded mindfulness-informed interventions (MIIs) that build on informal approaches or mixed techniques aiming at improving mindfulness indirectly. To address this research gap, the present comprehensive meta-analysis synthesizes the results of RCTs of MBIs and MIIs conducted in various workplace settings.

Method

A systematic literature search was conducted in five electronic databases complemented by manual search. Random-effects models were used to synthesize standardized mean differences (SMDs) for 25 outcomes and seven overarching categories of outcomes, and to detect various temporal effects. Meta-regressions were run to elucidate average SMDs between mindfulness intervention types and intervention and population characteristics, with the goal of detecting sources of heterogeneity and help guide the selection of the most appropriate mindfulness intervention type.

Results

Based on 91 eligible studies (from 92 publications), including 4927 participants and 4448 controls, the synthesis shows that MBIs and MIIs significantly improve mindfulness (SMD = 0.43; 95%-CI [0.33;0.52]), well-being (SMD = 0.63; 95%-CI [0.34;0.93]), mental health (SMD = 0.67; 95%-CI [0.48;0.86]), stress (SMD = 0.72; 95%-CI [0.54;0.90]), resilience (SMD = 1.06; 95%-CI [-0.22;2.34]), physical health (SMD = 0.45; 95%-CI [0.32;0.59]), and work-related factors (SMD = 0.62; 95%-CI [0.14;1.10]). Sensitivity analyses demonstrate a tendency towards smaller effect sizes due to extreme outliers. Effect sizes are stable in short-term follow-up assessments (1-12 weeks) for most outcomes, but not for long-term follow-up assessments (13-52 weeks). Meta-regressions suggest that observable intervention characteristics (e.g., online delivery) and population characteristics (e.g., age of participants), as well as study quality, do not explain the prevalence of heterogeneity in effect sizes.

Conclusions

Generally effective, mindfulness interventions are a useful tool to enhance aspects of employee health. However, because of heterogeneity and risk of bias, studies aiming at high-quality data collection and thorough reporting are necessary to draw firm conclusions.

Preregistration

A protocol of this systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (Registration-No. CRD42020159927).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12671-023-02130-7.

Effects of mobile mindfulness training on mental health of employees: A CONSORT-compliant pilot randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Employee stress and well-being affect organizational efficiency and productivity, as well as physical and psychological health of employees. Mindfulness is believed to reduce stress, prevent diseases, and promote well-being. Mindfulness has been used as the main component of various smartphone-based healthcare applications. Previous studies have suggested that mindfulness applications have a positive effect on employee stress and mental health. However, relatively few randomized controlled trials have examined the effectiveness of mindfulness applications on employees. This study aims to evaluate whether mobile mindfulness training (MMT) as a stress self-management tool improves employees' perceived stress, subjective well-being, and Mibyeong, a condition that is not a disease but shows obvious health abnormalities.

METHODS

Participants were recruited through advertisements displayed at 3 workplaces, including a patent attorney's office, a construction company, and a public relations firm. A total of 45 employees were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: the MMT group (Group A) receiving smartphone application-based mindfulness training, and a wait-list control (WLC) group (Group B), who received no intervention. Group A employees conducted MMT following daily and event guidelines for 4 weeks. In contrast, Group B employees did not receive any intervention in that time. The outcome variables were perceived stress, subjective well-being, and Mibyeong. Surveys were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up (fourth week post-intervention).

RESULTS

Demographic characteristics and baseline assessments were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The results of this study revealed that subjective well-being and Mibyeong were significantly improved in the MMT group compared with the WLC group. Moreover, this improvement was maintained up to at least 4 weeks later. However, perceived stress was not significantly reduced in the MMT group compared to the WLC group.

CONCLUSION

Four weeks of MMT improved the subjective well-being and Mibyeong of employees. However, further studies are required to investigate the effect of MMT on other areas of mental health.

Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on well-being and work-related stress in the financial sector: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

BACKGROUND

Work-related stress is a common phenomenon, often noticed in the employees of the finance sector. It mirrors counter effects on the wellness of employees, their mental well-being, and physical health. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) raise awareness and attention to the present moment experiences by adopting coping skills. It is necessary to promote employee well-being and reduce work-related stress; hence, the need arises to associate between the level of mindfulness, employee well-being, and work-related stress. A systematic review on the effectiveness of MBIs in the finance sector is necessary to facilitate evidence for the future utility to reduce work-related stress and promote employee well-being.

METHODS

In this review, randomized controlled trials, non-randomized control trials, cohort, and cross-sectional and case-control studies that assess the effectiveness of MBIs on the employees in the finance sector will be considered. We propose to perform a literature search which will be conducted from the years 2000 to 2021 on CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search terms will include controlled and accessible terms such as mindfulness-based interventions, mindfulness training, workplace, employees, workers, well-being, employee wellness, occupational health, and finance sector. The outcomes will include the effect on employee well-being and reduction in work-related stress. Two researchers will independently conduct the screening and data extraction and assess the risk of bias. Based on the availability of data, a meta-analysis will also be performed. This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis-Protocol (PRISMA-P) guidelines. "Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews" will be used to assess the quality of this review.

DISCUSSION

The review attempts to methodically analyse the effectiveness of MBIs among finance sector employees. It will foster to facilitate a detailed description and evidence-based overview of the effectiveness of MBIs on improving work-related stress, mindful awareness, and employee wellness and well-being in employees in the finance sector. The current study will provide an evidence base to researchers, academicians, and practitioners in the selection of mindfulness-based therapies for employees in the finance sector.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021249782.

A Systematic and Comparative Review of Behavior Change Strategies in Stress Management Apps: Opportunities for Improvement

Stress is one of the significant triggers of several physiological and psychological illnesses. Mobile health apps have been used to deliver various stress management interventions and coping strategies over the years. However, little work exists on persuasive strategies employed in stress management apps to promote behavior change. To address this gap, we review 150 stress management apps on both Google Play and Apple's App Store in three stages. First, we deconstruct and compare the persuasive/behavior change strategies operationalized in the apps using the Persuasive Systems Design (PSD) framework and Cialdini's Principles of Persuasion. Our results show that the most frequently employed strategies are personalization, followed by self-monitoring, and trustworthiness, while social support strategies such as competition, cooperation and social comparison are the least employed. Second, we compare our findings within the stress management domain with those from other mental health domains to uncover further insights. Finally, we reflect on our findings and offer eight design recommendations to improve the effectiveness of stress management apps and foster future research.

Design of a mindfulness-based intervention to support teachers’ emotional regulation behaviors

Addressing teachers’ ability to better navigate stress and emotional responses has the potential to improve classroom behaviors, student learning as well as teachers’ wellbeing. While there is growing interest in mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), there is need for greater attention to design aligned with relevant theories and transparent reporting to improve the rigor and translation of research. While utilized widely in health and behavior fields, behavior change theory has not been applied extensively in education or MBI research. This descriptive methodological paper articulates the intervention mapping and design process of an MBI to improve teachers’ stress and emotional regulation. To improve reporting, we use a post hoc application of a well-established behavioral model. Application of the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) as part of an intervention mapping approach for an MBI to align teacher’s needs with intervention elements most likely to achieve desired behavioral outcomes. The paper illustrates an approach which includes defining the problem in behavioral terms, identification of target behaviors and behavioral change techniques, and selection of strategies and modes of intervention delivery. A systematic intervention mapping approach applying the BCW can yield a holistic MBI for the desired behavior change, enhanced emotion and stress regulation in teachers. This example of applying the BCW to the design of an MBI demonstrates how intervention designers and researchers can make decisions about which techniques and delivery components to include in their interventions, and how to systematically describe them. Such approaches have the potential to improve the reporting and methodological rigor of future MBI research and the successful application of interventions in practice.

Resilience and Stress as Mediators in the Relationship of Mindfulness and Happiness

The aim of the present study was to examine the mediation effects of resilience and stress, two perceived opposite constructs, in the relationship between mindfulness and happiness. Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Subjective Happiness Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales short version-21 were administered to 523 undergraduate university students in India. Structural Equation Modeling with bootstrapping was applied to test the mediating effects of resilience and stress. Results showed that resilience and stress partially mediated the mindfulness-happiness relationship. In addition, resilience partially mediated the relationship of mindfulness to stress. Findings suggest that mindfulness may play an influential role in enhancing happiness through the mediating effects of resilience and stress.

An Integrative Review on the Research Progress of Mindfulness and Its Implications at the Workplace

Mindfulness has rapidly become a significant subject area in many disciplines. Most of the work on mindfulness has focused on the perspective of health and healthcare professionals, but relatively less research is focused on the organizational outcomes at the workplace. This review presents a theoretical and practical trajectory of mindfulness by sequential integration of recent fragmented scholarly work on mindfulness at the workplace. The review showcases that most contemporary practical challenges in organizations, such as anxiety, stress, depression, creativity, motivation, leadership, relationships, teamwork, burnout, engagement, performance, well-being, and physical and psychological health, could be addressed successfully with the budding concept of mindfulness. The causative processes due to higher mindfulness that generate positive cognitive, emotional, physiological, and behavioral outcomes include focused attention, present moment awareness, non-judgmental acceptance, self-regulatory functions, lower mind wandering, lower habit automaticity, and self-determination. Employee mindfulness could be developed through various mindfulness interventions in order to improve different organizational requirements, such as psychological capital, emotional intelligence, prosocial behavior, in-role and extra-role performance, financial and economic performance, green performance, and well-being. Accordingly, this review would be beneficial to inspire academia and practitioners on the transformative potential of mindfulness in organizations for higher performance, well-being, and sustainability. Future research opportunities and directions to be addressed are also discussed.

Occurrence of Mental Illness and Mental Health Risks among the Self-Employed: A Systematic Review

We aimed to systematically identify and evaluate all studies of good quality that compared the occurrence of mental disorders in the self-employed versus employees. Adhering to the Cochrane guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and searched three major medical databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase), complemented by hand search. We included 26 (three longitudinal and 23 cross-sectional) population-based studies of good quality (using a validated quality assessment tool), with data from 3,128,877 participants in total. The longest of these studies, a Swedish national register evaluation with 25 years follow-up, showed a higher incidence of mental illness among the self-employed compared to white-collar workers, but a lower incidence compared to blue-collar workers. In the second longitudinal study from Sweden the self-employed had a lower incidence of mental illness compared to both blue- and white-collar workers over 15 years, whereas the third longitudinal study (South Korea) did not find a difference regarding the incidence of depressive symptoms over 6 years. Results from the cross-sectional studies showed associations between self-employment and poor general mental health and stress, but were inconsistent regarding other mental outcomes. Most studies from South Korea found a higher prevalence of mental disorders among the self-employed compared to employees, whereas the results of cross-sectional studies from outside Asia were less consistent. In conclusion, we found evidence from population-based studies for a link between self-employment and increased risk of mental illness. Further longitudinal studies are needed examining the potential risk for the development of mental disorders in specific subtypes of the self-employed.

Effectiveness of a low-dose mindfulness-based intervention for alleviating distress in young unemployed adults

While the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) with respect to distress has been widely researched, unemployed individuals, who often suffer from high levels of distress, have largely been neglected in MBI research. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a low-dose MBI on distress in a sample of young unemployed adults. The sample included 239 young unemployed adults enrolled for a 6-week long employability-related training camp. Participants were allocated into an intervention group that received weekly 1-hour mindfulness training over 4 weeks, and a control group. Dispositional mindfulness, distress and well-being were assessed in the entire sample prior to the start and upon completion of the mindfulness training. A mixed model ANCOVA showed that distress was inversely and significantly predicted by baseline levels of mindfulness and well-being. After accounting for the baseline levels of mindfulness and well-being, a significant effect of the mindfulness intervention was evident. This result shows that a low-dose MBI can decrease distress in a sample of young unemployed adults and its effectiveness is positively associated with initial levels of dispositional mindfulness and well-being.

Psychometric validation of the Persian version of the Emotional Style Questionnaire

Emotions play a central role in scientific models of decision-making, human development, interpersonal processes, psychopathology, and well-being. The Emotional Style Questionnaire (ESQ) is a novel and multifaceted psychometric scale that assesses the dimensions of individual’s emotional styles. The present study evaluated the validity and factor structure of the Persian ESQ. The original version of the ESQ was translated and back-translated into Persian, followed by a pilot study. A sample of university students and staff participated in a survey (n = 822) which included the ESQ, Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS), World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Results showed that the Persian ESQ had very good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient: 0.84; Composite reliability = 0.89) and adequate test-retest reliability after four weeks (intraclass coefficient, r = .71 with 95% CI [.63, .77]). The confirmatory factor analysis model fitted the data well (χ²/df = 2.86, CFI = .970, SRMR = .046, PCLOSE = .85 > .05, RMSEA = .048, 90% CI [.043, .053]). Also, measurement invariance indicated the ESQ had acceptable construct validity among different groups. As for criterion-related validity, the ESQ positively correlated with scores on the WHOQOL-BREF (r = .76) and PANAS-positive affect (r = .62), and negatively correlated with the scores on the OASIS (r = −.68), DERS (r = −.39), and PANAS-negative affect (r = −72). The findings provide evidence that the ESQ is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing healthy emotionality among Persian speaking individuals. The Persian ESQ can be used in psychological intervention and clinical research in Iran and other Persian-speaking countries.

Intrapersonal mindfulness is associated with reduced risk of burnout among Central Appalachian educators

BACKGROUND

National statistics suggest that up to 40% of new teachers will leave their school or the teaching profession within their first five years of teaching. Much of this attrition is associated with work-related burnout, some of which may be preventable with targeted worksite health interventions. Previous research suggests that mindfulness skills may be protective from burnout, ultimately reducing the likelihood of attrition from the profession.

METHODS

This study compared the self-reported levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress with participants' levels of interpersonal and intrapersonal mindfulness. A total of 144 participants completed the Professional Quality of Life Inventory and the Mindfulness in Teaching Inventory. Study participants included K-12 teachers in Eastern Kentucky. Odds Ratios and Relative Risks were calculated using Epi Info. Pearson correlations, linear regression, and ANOVA analyses were completed using SPSS. Chronbach's alpha values were also calculated to evaluate score reliability of the five constructs.

RESULTS

Relative Risks and Odds Ratios of having secondary traumatic stress scores of "average/high" were significantly lower for those with high intrapersonal mindfulness scores (OR = 0.12, CI: 0.05-0.30; RR = 0.21, CI: 0.10-0.44). Those who reported high intrapersonal mindfulness scores were up to 11 times more likely to report "low" burnout than those who reported low intrapersonal mindfulness scores (OR = 11.58, CI: 5.06-26.52). Burnout neg- atively correlated with intrapersonal mindfulness (r = -0.616, p < .05) suggesting that as intrapersonal mindfulness level decreases, burnout increases. ANOVA testing identified significant differences in burnout based on intrapersonal mindfulness level (F = 8.928, p <.05).

CONCLUSION

Those who reported high levels of intrapersonal mindfulness had significantly reduced risk of burnout. These results will inform further research in the region regarding mindfulness practice and the experience of burnout among teachers in the region. Thus, mindfulness may be protective from occupation-related burnout for this population. Interventions informed by additional research could reduce the burden of occupation-related burnout and may ultimately contribute toward reduced attrition in the teaching profession.

Efectos de la meditación activa en indicadores físicos y psicoemocionales de estrés en estudiantes universitarios en Chile. Un estudio piloto

Introducción. Las múltiples exigencias académicas a las que los estudiantes universitarios se enfrentan les generan altos niveles de estrés; si bien el estrés puede ayudarles a afrontar tales exigencias, en muchos casos este puede causarles diversos problemas de salud.Objetivo. Evaluar si la implementación de la meditación activa en la rutina diaria de estudiantes universitarios de las ciencias de la salud tiene un efecto en sus indicadores físicos y psicoemocionales.Materiales y métodos. Estudio piloto exploratorio y cuantitativo realizado en una muestra de 22 estudiantes universitarios que aceptaron participar en un curso electivo de meditación activa de 3 meses (18 sesiones). A los participantes se les solicitó diligenciar el Cuestionario de Percepción Global de Estado (CPGE) ex ante y ex post al curso.Resultados. 18 participantes completaron el CPGE ex ante y ex post, pero solo 16 fueron válidos para el procesamiento de datos. La mayoría de estudiantes reportó una mejora respecto a su percepción sobre cómo enfrentar diferentes situaciones estresantes luego de completar el curso, por ejemplo, el 87.5% manifestó permanecer en un estado de relajación en situaciones estresantes; el 81%, una disminución del agotamiento mental, y el 81%, un mejor manejo de las situaciones estresantes.Conclusiones. La incorporación de la meditación activa en la rutina diaria de estos estudiantes disminuyó sus indicadores físicos y psicoemocionales de estrés, por lo que es necesario realizar nuevos estudios con muestras más grandes que permitan confirmar el efecto positivo de este tipo de cursos en la salud de los estudiantes universitarios, lo que sin duda repercutirá en un mejor rendimiento académico producto de un mejor estado mental.

Evaluating real-time momentary stress and affect in police officers using a smartphone application

Background

Police officers work under stressful conditions, and the resulting occupational stress may impact their health and well-being through changes in positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). It is therefore important to assess officers’ stress, PA, and NA while it is experienced. This study evaluates police officers’ momentary stress and affect in real-world settings using an ecological momentary assessment, and examines the within-person (W) and between-person (B) factors that influence momentary affect.

Methods

Eighty-nine police officers were recruited in South Korea. Participants completed questionnaires about their momentary stress and affect using a smartphone application. The associations between momentary stress, momentary contextual environment, momentary PA, and momentary NA were examined using mixed modeling.

Results

Social overload (W: -.37), work discontent (W: −.45, B: −.73), social tension (W: −.79, B: −.67), and pressure to perform (W: −.29, B: −.49) were significantly associated with lower PA. Work overload (B: .33) and social isolation(W: .48, B: .31) were significantly associated with higher PA. Being with family (W: .71, B: .91) and friends (W: 1.89, B: 2.45) were significantly associated with higher PA. Being at home or other places away from the work place were significantly associated with higher PA (W: 1.01) and when patrolling or investigating were associated with lower PA (B: − 1.13). Lack of social recognition (W: 1.74, B: 2.33), work discontent (W: 1.59, B: 1.88), social tension (W: 1.74, B: 2.92), and pressure to perform (W: .78, B: 1.92) were significantly associated with higher NA. Being with colleagues (W: − 1.43), family (W: -1.38, B: − 2.66) and friends (W: -1.78, B: − 2.45) were associated with lower NA.

Conclusions

Momentary within-person and between-person stress factors and contextual factors influenced police officers’ momentary affect. These factors should be considered when developing interventions to mitigate stress and improve affect in police officers.

Mindfulness for Preventing Psychosocial Risks in the Workplace: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Organizations today are implementing psychological interventions to promote the job performance and wellbeing of their employees. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can contribute to providing workers with competencies and skills and develop their strengths. MBIs are therefore becoming more and more present in the workplace, sometimes using online intervention programs, which offer a promising direction in prevention and intervention for health. The objective of this study is to analyze the efficacy of MBIs on psychological variables in the workplace. For this purpose, a search for scientific articles published from 2009 to 2019 was made in the Psicodoc, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases, where a total of 468 articles were found. After filtering with preestablished inclusion criteria, 24 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis suggest that intervention in mindfulness positively influences psychological variables related to employee health and wellbeing. However, it is recommended to continue performing new studies to confirm this finding.

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Self-compassion in Health Care Professionals: a Meta-analysis

Objectives

Health care professionals have elevated rates of burnout and compassion fatigue which are correlated with poorer quality of life and patient care, and inversely correlated with self-compassion. Primary studies have evaluated the extent to which mindfulness-based interventions increase self-compassion with contradictory findings. A meta-analytic review of the literature was conducted to quantitatively synthesize the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on self-compassion among health care professionals.

Methods

Twenty-eight treatment outcome studies were identified eligible for inclusion. Five cumulative effect sizes were calculated using random-effects models to evaluate differences of changes in self-compassion for treatment and control groups. Within and between group comparisons were evaluated. Sub-group and moderator analyses were conducted to explore potential moderating variables.

Results

Twenty-seven articles (k = 29, N = 1020) were utilized in the pre-post-treatment meta-analysis. Fifteen samples (52%) included health care professionals and fourteen (48%) professional health care students. Results showed a moderate effect size between pre-post-treatment comparisons (g = .61, 95% CI = .47 to .76) for self-compassion and a strong effect size for pre-treatment to follow-up (g = .76, 95% CI = .41 to 1.12). The effect size comparing post-treatment versus post-control was moderate. One exploratory moderator analysis was significant, with stronger effects for interventions with a retreat component.

Conclusions

Findings suggest mindfulness-based interventions improve self-compassion in health care professionals. Additionally, a variety of mindfulness-based programs may be useful for employees and trainees. Future studies with rigorous methodology evaluating effects on self-compassion and patient care from mindfulness-based interventions are warranted to extend findings and explore moderators.

Online Mindfulness Training Increases Well-Being, Trait Emotional Intelligence, and Workplace Competency Ratings: A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial

A randomized waitlist-controlled trial was conducted to assess the effectiveness of an online 8-week mindfulness-based training program in a sample of adults employed fulltime at a Fortune 100 company in the United States. Baseline measures were collected in both intervention and control groups. Following training, the intervention group (N = 37) showed statistically significant increases in resilience and positive mood, and significant decreases in stress and negative mood. There were no reported improvements in the wait-list control group (N = 65). Trait mindfulness and emotional intelligence (EI) were also assessed. Following the intervention mindfulness intervention participants reported increases in trait mindfulness and increases on all trait EI facets with the exception of empathy. The control group did not report any positive changes in these variables, and reported reductions in resilience and increases in negative mood. Finally, both self and colleague ratings of workplace competencies were collected in the intervention group only and provided preliminary evidence that mindfulness training enhanced performance on key leadership competencies including competencies related to decisiveness and creativity. The present study demonstrates the effectiveness of an online-based mindfulness training program for enhancing well-being, self-perceptions of emotional intelligence, and workplace performance.

Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Self-Compassion and Psychological Health Among Young Adults With a History of Childhood Maltreatment

Background

Individuals who were maltreated during childhood are faced with increased risks for developing various psychological symptoms that are particularly resistant to traditional treatments. This pilot study investigated the effects of a mindfulness based behavioral intervention for young adults with a childhood maltreatment history.

Methods

This study looked at self-report psychological questionnaires from 20 subjects (5 males) before and after a mindfulness-based behavioral intervention, compared to 18 subjects (6 males) in the waiting list control group (age range 22–29); all subjects experienced mild-to-moderate childhood maltreatment. We analyzed changes in stress, anxiety, depression, mindfulness and self-compassion related to the intervention with linear mixed effects models; we also analyzed the relationships among questionnaire score changes with partial correlation analyses and mediation analysis.

Results

Linear mixed effects model analyses revealed significant group by time interaction on stress (p < 0.01), anxiety (p < 0.05), and self-compassion (p < 0.01), with the mindfulness group having significant reduction in stress and anxiety (p < 0.01), and significant increase in mindfulness (p < 0.05) and self-compassion (p < 0.001). Partial correlation analyses showed that among all subjects from both groups, changes in mindfulness positively correlated with changes in self-compassion (r = 0.578, p = 0.001), which negatively correlated with changes in depression (r = −0.374, p = 0.05) and anxiety (r = −0.395, p < 0.05). Changes in self-compassion mediated, in part, the relationship between changes in mindfulness and changes in anxiety (average causal mediation effect = −4.721, p < 0.05). We observed a dose-dependent effect of the treatment, i.e., the number of intervention sessions attended were negatively correlated with changes in stress (r = −0.674, p < 0.01), anxiety (r = −0.580, p < 0.01), and depression (r = −0.544, p < 0.05), after controlling for the individual differences in childhood maltreatment severity.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that, to some extent, the mindfulness-based intervention can be helpful for improving self-compassion and psychological health among young adults with a childhood maltreatment history.

Clinical Trial Registration

www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02447744.