There is no conflict of interest.
Highlights
- The study's objective was to examine the impact of a brief mindfulness-based intervention (bMBI) on health outcomes.
- The study was an interrupted time series design using participant questionnaires and physiological measure of stress. The authors compared the outcomes of participants before and after they participated in the intervention.
- The study found a statistically significant relationship between the bMBI and reduced symptoms of stress, burnout, and depression at follow-up.
- This study receives a low evidence rating. This means we are not confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the brief mindfulness-based intervention (bMBI); other factors are likely to have contributed.
Features of the Intervention
The study authors developed a brief mindfulness-based intervention (bMBI) for teachers to reduce work-related stress and burnout. The program lasted 16 weeks and included one 90-minute session each month (4 sessions totaling 6 hours overall). Participants were given workbooks with exercises related to each part of the bMBI, which included attentive awareness, receptive attitude, and intentionality. They were also encouraged to practice these skills between sessions.
Features of the Study
The study was conducted at a magnet high school in the Southeastern United States. Participants needed to attend at least 3 out of the 4 sessions during the 16-week program. The analysis sample included 11 teachers. Most participants were female (91%) and White (91%), with an average age of 42.7 years. In terms of education, 82% had master's degrees, while 18% held doctoral degrees. Also, 45% of the participants had previously received mental health services.
Participants completed questionnaires about their demographics, stress levels, burnout, psychological distress, and mindfulness at baseline (two weeks prior) and at follow-up (two weeks later). They also provided two saliva samples for cortisol testing right after waking up, spaced 30 minutes apart, over two consecutive days at both baseline and follow-up. These samples measured the cortisol awakening response (CAR), which indicates stress levels. The authors used statistical tests to compare outcomes before and after participation in the intervention.
Findings
Health and safety
- The study found that the teachers had a significant decrease in self-reported symptoms of stress, burnout, and depression after the bMBI sessions.
- The study found no significant differences in pre- and post-intervention CAR values.
Considerations for Interpreting the Findings
Although the initial study design was a randomized controlled trial, the authors only compared the health outcomes of teachers measured before and after they participated in the bMBI. They did not compare the changes in outcomes with those of the control group of teachers who did not participate in the intervention. Therefore, the study was reviewed as an interrupted time series. For these types of designs, authors must observe outcomes for multiple periods before the intervention to rule out the possibility that participants had increasing or decreasing trends in the outcomes examined before enrollment in the program. That is, if participants who had decreasing stress or burnout tended to enroll in the program, we would anticipate further decreases over time, even if they did not participate in the program. Without knowing the trends before study enrollment, we cannot rule this out. Therefore, the study receives a low causal evidence rating.
Causal Evidence Rating
Research Guidelines
Review Protocol: Living Systematic Annual Search and Review Protocol
Review Guidelines: Causal Evidence Guidelines