Stress Free UCR: The Impact of 8 Weeks of Headspace on Stress in a Heterogeneous University Employee Cohort

NCT03695627 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: HS-18-031
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 165
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to test the effects of a digital meditation intervention in a sample of high stress UCR employees. We will randomize UCR employees to 8-weeks of either a digital mindfulness intervention (using the commercially available application Headspace) or a waitlist control condition. Participants assigned to the intervention group will be asked to download and use the Headspace mobile application for 10 minutes per day for 8 weeks. They will be asked to fill out short (no longer than 30 minutes long) questionnaires at baseline, week 4, week 8 (post intervention), and a 4-month follow up period. Participants who are randomized to the digital meditation intervention will also take part in a 1-year follow up. All activities will take place online (via computer or smartphone), and on the participants' own time.

Conditions

Stress, Psychological

Keywords

Stress, health, meditation, mindfulness, employees, job strain, burnout, work, help, mood, affect

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in perceived stress score, as determined by the total score on the Perceived Stress Scale

  The Perceived Stress Scale has a total score scale range of 0 to 40, with higher values indicating more perceived stress

  Baseline to post-intervention, an anticipated average of 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Change in subjective mindfulness, as determined by total score on Mindful Attention Awareness Scale

  Baseline to post-intervention, an anticipated average of 8 weeks

• Anxiety, as determined by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale

  Baseline to post-intervention, an anticipated average of 8 weeks

• Change in burnout, as determined by the Bergen Burnout Inventory

  Baseline to post-intervention, an anticipated average of 8 weeks

• Sleep quality as determined by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

  Baseline to post-intervention, an anticipated average of 8 weeks

• Worry as determined by the Penn State Worry Questionnaire

  Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 4 months, 1 year

Study Arms (2)

Meditation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the meditation group will use a digitally-based mindfulness intervention Headspace app (Basics + Stress packs) will be used for 10 minutes a day over the course of 8 weeks

Behavioral: Meditation

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Control group participants will continue their normal activities and not add any form of meditation during the study period.

Interventions

Meditation BEHAVIORAL

10 minute a day, 8 week digital meditation

Meditation Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Have access to a smartphone or computer every day
• Are fluent in English
• Are a UCR employee
• Have moderate to high levels of stress
• Consent: demonstrates understanding of the study and willingness to participate as evidenced by voluntary informed consent and has received a signed and dated copy of the informed consent
• Are at least 18 years of age

You may not qualify if:

• Experienced meditator or have participated in a formal meditation practice in the last 6 months (defined as 3-4 times or more per week)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, Riverside: lead
• The University of California's Healthy Campus Network: collaborator
• Headspace Meditation Limited: collaborator
• University of California, San Francisco: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of California, Riverside

Riverside, California, 92521, United States

Location

Related Publications (12)

• Ganster, D. C., & Rosen, C. C. (2013). Work stress and employee health. Journal of Management, 39(5), 1085-1122. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206313475815

  BACKGROUND

• Goh, J., Pfeffer, J., & Zenios, S. A. (2016). The Relationship Between Workplace Stressors and Mortality and Health Costs in the United States. Management Science, 62(2), 608-628. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2014.2115

  BACKGROUND

• Karasek, R. A. (1979). Job Demands, Job Decision Latitude, and Mental Strain: Implications for Job Redesign. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24(2), 285. https://doi.org/10.2307/2392498

  BACKGROUND

• Landsbergis PA, Dobson M, Koutsouras G, Schnall P. Job strain and ambulatory blood pressure: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Am J Public Health. 2013 Mar;103(3):e61-71. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301153. Epub 2013 Jan 17.

  PMID: 23327240 BACKGROUND

• Landsbergis PA, Schnall PL, Warren K, Pickering TG, Schwartz JE. Association between ambulatory blood pressure and alternative formulations of job strain. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1994 Oct;20(5):349-63. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1386.

  PMID: 7863299 BACKGROUND

• Ly KH, Truschel A, Jarl L, Magnusson S, Windahl T, Johansson R, Carlbring P, Andersson G. Behavioural activation versus mindfulness-based guided self-help treatment administered through a smartphone application: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2014 Jan 9;4(1):e003440. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003440.

  PMID: 24413342 BACKGROUND

• Mani M, Kavanagh DJ, Hides L, Stoyanov SR. Review and Evaluation of Mindfulness-Based iPhone Apps. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Aug 19;3(3):e82. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.4328.

  PMID: 26290327 BACKGROUND

• Roeser, R. W., Schonert-Reichl, K. A., Jha, A., Cullen, M., Wallace, L., Wilensky, R., … Harrison, J. (2013). Mindfulness training and reductions in teacher stress and burnout: Results from two randomized, waitlist-control field trials. Journal of Educational Psychology, 105(3), 787-804. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032093

  BACKGROUND

• Siegrist J, Starke D, Chandola T, Godin I, Marmot M, Niedhammer I, Peter R. The measurement of effort-reward imbalance at work: European comparisons. Soc Sci Med. 2004 Apr;58(8):1483-99. doi: 10.1016/S0277-9536(03)00351-4.

  PMID: 14759692 BACKGROUND

• The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health. (2007). Mental Health at Work: Developing the business case (Vol. 8).

  BACKGROUND

• Virgili, M. (2015). Mindfulness-based interventions reduce psychological distress in working adults: A meta-analysis of intervention studies. Mindfulness, 6(2), 326-337. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-013-0264-0

  BACKGROUND

• Wolever RQ, Bobinet KJ, McCabe K, Mackenzie ER, Fekete E, Kusnick CA, Baime M. Effective and viable mind-body stress reduction in the workplace: a randomized controlled trial. J Occup Health Psychol. 2012 Apr;17(2):246-258. doi: 10.1037/a0027278. Epub 2012 Feb 20.

  PMID: 22352291 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological; Occupational Stress; Burnout, Psychological; Helping Behavior

Interventions

Meditation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Occupational Diseases; Social Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Spiritual Therapies; Relaxation Therapy; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Masking Details: Investigator will be blind to condition throughout data accrual.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor of Psychology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 12, 2018
• First Posted: October 4, 2018
• Study Start: July 13, 2018
• Primary Completion: December 30, 2019
• Study Completion: June 20, 2020
• Last Updated: November 6, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-11

Locations

US (1)