Mindfulness meditation training in an occupational setting: Effects of a 12-weeks mindfulness-based intervention on wellbeing.
Teresa Fazia, Francesco Bubbico, Giovanni Berzuini and 4 others
PMID 34842215WHAT IT FOUND
Distress and anxiety did not show clear improvement after 12 weekly meditation classes, but employees reported less perceived stress, higher wellbeing, self-compassion, and body awareness.
Key findings
01Compared with controls, the meditation group showed better change over time in perceived stress, overall mental wellbeing, self-compassion, and several body-awareness subscales, plus the observing subscale of mindfulness.
02The meditation group did not show a clear difference in change over time for global distress, state anxiety, or positive and negative affect.
03The analysed sample was 42 employees, 19 controls and 23 treated, after 17 of 59 recruited were excluded.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Only 42 of the 59 recruited employees were analysed, because 17 dropped out or did not complete the follow-up questionnaires. Participants were voluntary employees from one company, so they may have been more motivated than other workers. The study did not measure job performance, satisfaction, sleep, or follow-up effects. The control group received no active comparison, so the study cannot show how this programme compares with other workplace wellbeing activities. All outcomes were self-report questionnaires, not observed work performance or clinical assessment. The paper measured eight outcomes, so positive findings are among many comparisons.
Declared interests
The authors declared no commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that this programme treats workplace distress or anxiety. The meditation group did not show a clear difference in change for global distress, state anxiety, or positive and negative affect, and the analysed sample was small and partly voluntary.