Internet-based instructor-led mindfulness for work-related rumination, fatigue, and sleep: Assessing facets of mindfulness as mechanisms of change. A randomized waitlist control trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to understand how mindfulness-based interventions improve occupational health measures, specifically recovery from work, and to identify the mechanisms of change.
Results Summary
Participants in the mindfulness intervention reported significantly lower work-related rumination and fatigue, and higher sleep quality compared to controls, with effects maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. The primary mechanism of change was increased "acting with awareness."
Population
Working adults (n = 118, with 60 in the intervention group and 58 in the control group).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Intervention duration not specified, but follow-ups occurred at 3 and 6 months.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Internet-based instructor-led mindfulness intervention | decrease | work-related rumination | Participants who completed the mindfulness intervention | - | significantly lower levels | #1 |
Internet-based instructor-led mindfulness intervention | decrease | fatigue | Participants who completed the mindfulness intervention | - | significantly lower levels | #2 |
Internet-based instructor-led mindfulness intervention | increase | sleep quality | Participants who completed the mindfulness intervention | - | significantly higher levels | #3 |
Internet-based instructor-led mindfulness intervention | no change | Effects of the intervention | participants | medium to large effect sizes | maintained | #4 |
Internet-based instructor-led mindfulness intervention | increase | acting with awareness | - | - | explained by increased levels | #5 |
This study aimed to extend our theoretical understanding of how mindfulness-based interventions exert their positive influence on measures of occupational health. Employing a randomized waitlist control study design, we sought to (a) assess an Internet-based instructor-led mindfulness intervention for its effect on key factors associated with "recovery from work," specifically, work-related rumination, fatigue, and sleep quality; (b) assess different facets of mindfulness (acting with awareness, describing, nonjudging, and nonreacting) as mechanisms of change; and (c) assess whether the effect of the intervention was maintained over time by following up our participants after 3 and 6 months. Participants who completed the mindfulness intervention (n = 60) reported significantly lower levels of work-related rumination and fatigue, and significantly higher levels of sleep quality, when compared with waitlist control participants (n = 58). Effects of the intervention were maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-up with medium to large effect sizes. The effect of the intervention was primarily explained by increased levels of only 1 facet of mindfulness (acting with awareness). This study provides support for online mindfulness interventions to aid recovery from work and furthers our understanding with regard to how mindfulness interventions exert their positive effects. (PsycINFO Database Record