Two Recovery Strategies at Work, Based on Mindfulness and Physical Exercise, on Levels of Job Stress
- Conditions
- Mental Health Wellness
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Physical exerciseBehavioral: Mindfulness-based intervention
- Registration Number
- NCT05086198
- Lead Sponsor
- Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
- Brief Summary
The present study aims to compare the differential effects of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) and physical exercise (PE) on different stress and health variables by self-reports. A randomized controlled trial of three groups is proposed, with pretest, posttest and four follow-ups at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months that would be developed among the employees of two large multinationals.
- Detailed Description
Work and workplace related problems are common sources of stress. Work-related stress is associated with a decrease in productivity, greater absenteeism, accidents and injuries, mental illness, greater errors, and poor performance, among others, which involve significant financial costs. Therefore, it is crucial to find coping strategies that are effective in reducing such stress. Probably, the most appropriate strategies, for their real possibilities of implementation, for their easy execution, low cost and for the empirical support they have, are mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and physical exercise (PE). Both types of practices have shown beneficial effects for physical health, mental health and psychological well-being in general. Different investigations have compared the implementation of MBI and PE, both combined and separately, with interesting results.
The main objective is to evaluate the interactive effects of group x time, the intragroup changes and the differences between groups, in the different moments (pretest, posttest, 1, 2, 3 and 6-months follow-up) on general health, stress, affective job satisfaction, recovery, work performance, and positive and negative affect in the three groups considered; an MBI, an aerobic PE program and an inactive control / waiting list (LE) condition will be contrasted.
The secondary objective is to evaluate the trend and linear patterns in the change trajectory in the three groups during the eight weeks of intervention on fatigue, psychological distancing, sleep, work stress, and attention.
A randomized controlled trial of three groups is proposed, with pretest, posttest and four follow-ups at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months that would be developed among the employees of two large multinationals (N ≥ 150).
The primary dependent variables considered are: 1) recovery experiences; 2) perceived stress; 3) general health; 4) affective job satisfaction; 5) individual work performance; and 6) positive and negative affects. The secondary dependent variables considered are daily states of: 1) fatigue, 2) psychological distancing, 3) quality of sleep; 4) work stress; and 5) attention.
Sociodemographic data will be collected at baseline (age, gender, level of education, number of economically dependent persons, type of contract, type of working day (split/continuous), workstation type, seniority in the organization, seniority in current position and teleworking modality).
The investigators identified two candidate covariates: 1) pharmacological treatment that can influence the psychological state (measured with two alternatives, use / non-use of anxiolytics, hypnotics and other psychotropic drugs); 2) Baseline state of stress and work stress (measured using a single item scale, Likert scale from 1 to 5, 1 being very low and 5 very high)
The intervention program is structured for 8 weeks, during which the two intervention groups will carry out their recovery strategy (IBM or EF), starting and increasing the practice 5 minutes every two weeks (weeks 1 and 2, 15 minutes; weeks 3 and 4, 20 minutes; weeks 5 and 6, 25; weeks 7 and 8, 30 minutes). The control group will continue as usual. Record will be taken of recovery strategies that workers perform naturally and spontaneously, and will be compared to strategies guided by interventions, as those the investigators propose.
The investigators believe that this study is a quasi-pioneering initiative because of its theme, uses a robust methodology, and will have an important scientific-technical impact. The importance of the topic addressed in terms of health and business productivity is associated with important contributions in terms of knowledge transfer to companies and society in general.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 181
- Age from 18 to 65 years.
- To be a full-time worker (≥35 hours/week).
- Currently practicing any type of meditation regularly.
- Currently practicing physical activity (aerobic or anaerobic) more than once a week.
- To have a physical or mental illness that prevents moderate exercise or mindfulness practice.
- Very low self-perceived work load and responsibility levels.
- Very low self-perceived stress and work stress levels.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- FACTORIAL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Physical exercise (PE) Physical exercise A 8-week physical exercise intervention. From 15 to 30 minutes of practice per session, three times/week through workout videos. Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) Mindfulness-based intervention A 8-week mindfulness-based intervention. From 15 to 30 minutes of practice per session, three times/week through audio guided meditations.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Need for Recovery with six time points data. Baseline, Post-treatment 8 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up, 2-month follow-up,3-months follow-up and 6-months follow-up The Need for Recovery (NFR) Scale consists of 9 items. It facilitates the understanding of the factors that can lead to sustainable working and employability. It is answered on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5 (1 = Never and 5 = Always). The score was used to generate a total score ranging from 1 to 100.Our research team will carry the validation of the Spanish version of NFR.
Change in stress with six time points data. Baseline, Post-treatment 8 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up, 2-month follow-up,3-months follow-up and 6-months follow-up A single item was used: Stress refers to a person's situation when they feel tense, restless, nervous, or anxious, or are unable to sleep at night because their mind is constantly preoccupied with work-related issues. Please indicate the extent to which you currently feel this type of stress. It has five possible responses on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5 (being 1 nothing and 5 a lot)
Change in Positive and Negative Affect with six time points data. Baseline, Post-treatment 8 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up, 2-month follow-up,3-months follow-up and 6-months follow-up The PANAS Scales of Positive and Negative Affect (PANAS) - Spanish version has 20 items. It is the most widely used scale of affectivity. It has two dominant dimensions, positive affect (10 items) and negative affect (10 items) It is answered on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5 (1 = Very slightly or Not at all and 5 = Extremely). The score was used to generate a total score ranging from 20 to 100.
Change in General Health with six time points data. Baseline, Post-treatment 8 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up, 2-month follow-up,3-months follow-up and 6-months follow-up The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) consists of 12 items. It is a unidimensional measure of psychological distress. It is answered on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 4 (1 = Never and 4 = Always). The score was used to generate a total score ranging from 0 to 36.
Change in Individual Work Performance with six time points data. Baseline, Post-treatment 8 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up, 2-month follow-up,3-months follow-up and 6-months follow-up The Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ)-Brief Spanish version (IWPQ) has 18 items. It measures the three main dimensions of job performance: task performance, contextual performance, and counterproductive work behavior. It is answered on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5 (1 = Never or Seldom and 5 = Always or Often). The score was used to generate a total score ranging from 18 to 90.
Change in Affective Job Satisfaction with six time points data. Baseline, Post-treatment 8 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up, 2-month follow-up,3-months follow-up and 6-months follow-up The Brief Index of Affective Job Satisfaction (BIAJS)-Spanish version (BIAJS) consists of 7 items. It is an overall measure of affective job satisfaction. It measures satisfaction in five facets: promotion, co-workers, work itself, supervision and salary. It is answered on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5 (1 = Strongly disagree and 5 = Strongly agree). The score was used to generate a total score ranging from 7 to 35.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Sleep (item n. 6 from the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index). 4 days per week during the 8-week interventions Single-Item on Sleep: "How did you sleep last night?". The responses are articulated on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5 (1 = very bad and 5 = very good)
Change in Psychological distancing (item n. 3 from the Recovery Experience Questionnaire). 4 days per week during the 8-week interventions Single-Item on Psychological distancing level: "After work, I have been able to "disconnect". The response is recorded on a 5-point Likert scale varying from "not at all" to "very much".
Change in Work stress (single-item measure from the Single-item Measure of Stress Symptoms). 4 days per week during the 8-week interventions Single-Item on work stress: "Indicate the extent to which you have felt stressed, tense, nervous, or anxious today". The response is recorded on a 5-point Likert scale varying from "not at all" to "very much".
Change in Mindfulness (item n. 3 from the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire). 4 days per week during the 8-week interventions Single-Item on attention: "Today it has been difficult for me to be attentive to what required my attention at all times". The response is recorded on a 5-point Likert scale varying from "not at all" to "very much".
Change in Fatigue (single-item measure from the Single-Item Fatigue Measure). 4 days per week during the 8-week interventions Single-Item on fatigue level:" Indicate what level of fatigue you felt today". The response is rcorded on a 5-point Likert scale varying from "not at all" to "very much".
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Sara Cuerva Navas
🇪🇸Madrid, Spain