Prevalence of Mindfulness Practices in the US Workforce: National Health Interview Survey


Author: Diana Kachan1, Henry Olano1, Stacey L Tannenbaum2, Debra W Annane2, Ashwin Mehta2, Kristopher L Arheart1, Lora E Fleming3, Xuan Yang4, Laura A McClure2, David J Lee1,2

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.

<sup>2</sup> Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.

<sup>3</sup> European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.

<sup>4</sup> Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th St, Room 1027, Miami, FL 33136. E-mail: xxy100@med.miami.edu.
Conference/Journal: Prev Chronic Dis
Date published: 2017 Jan 5
Other:
 Volume ID: 14   ,  Pages: E01   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.5888/pcd14.160034.   ,  Word Count: 165  
    Introduction:

Mindfulness-based practices can improve workers' health and reduce employers' costs by ameliorating the negative effect of stress on workers' health. We examined the prevalence of engagement in 4 mindfulness-based practices in the US workforce.



Methods:

We used 2002, 2007, and 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data for adults (aged ≥18 y, n = 85,004) to examine 12-month engagement in meditation, yoga, tai chi, and qigong among different groups of workers.



Results:

Reported yoga practice prevalence nearly doubled from 6.0% in 2002 to 11.0% in 2012 (P < .001); meditation rates increased from 8.0% in 2002 to 9.9% in 2007 (P < .001). In multivariable models, mindfulness practice was significantly lower among farm workers (odds ratio [OR] = 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21-0.83]) and blue-collar workers (OR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.54-0.74) than among white-collar workers.



Conclusion:

Worker groups with low rates of engagement in mindfulness practices could most benefit from workplace mindfulness interventions. Improving institutional factors limiting access to mindfulness-based wellness programs and addressing existing beliefs about mindfulness practices among underrepresented worker groups could help eliminate barriers to these programs.





PMID: 28055821 PMCID: PMC5217767 DOI: 10.5888/pcd14.160034