Author: Huang SL1, Li RH2, Huang FY3, Tang FC4.
Affiliation: 1Department of Psychology, Chung-Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Room of Clinical Psychology, Chung-Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 2Department of Psychology, Chung-Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. 3Department of Education, National Taipei University of Education, Taipei, Taiwan. 4Department of Occupational Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan; Department of Leisure Services Management, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung, Taiwan.
Conference/Journal: PLoS One.
Date published: 2015 Sep 14
Other:
Volume ID: 10 , Issue ID: 9 , Pages: e0138089 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138089 , Word Count: 303
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
This study aims to intensively evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on mental illness risks (including psychological distress, prolonged fatigue, and perceived stress) and job strain (job control and job demands) for employees with poor mental health.
METHODS:
A longitudinal research design was adopted. In total, 144 participants were randomized to the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group participated in MBI for eight weeks. Measurements were collected for both groups at five time points: at pre-intervention (T1), at mid-intervention (T2), at the completion of intervention (T3), four weeks after intervention (T4), and eight weeks after intervention (T5). Data were analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle. A linear mixed model with two levels was employed to analyze the repeated measurement data.
RESULTS:
Compared with the control group, the intercepts (means at T3) for the intervention group were significantly lower on psychological distress, prolonged fatigue, and perceived stress when MBI was completed. Even with the demographic variables controlled, the positive effects remained. For growth rates of prolonged fatigue and perceived stress, participants in the intervention group showed a steeper decrease than did the participants in the control group. Regarding job strain, although the intercept (mean at T3) of job demands showed a significant decline when BMI was completed, the significance disappeared when the demographic variables were controlled. Moreover, the other results for job control and job demands did not show promising findings.
CONCLUSION:
As a workplace health promotion program, the MBI seems to have potential in improving mental illness risks for employees with poor mental health. However, there was insufficient evidence to support its effect on mitigating job strain. Further research on maintaining the positive effects on mental health for the long term and on developing innovative MBI to suit job strain are recommended.
TRIAL REGISTRATION:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02241070.
PMID: 26367270