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Reducing stress and burnout in the public‐sector work environment: A mindfulness meditation pilot study
Author(s) -
Vella Elizabeth,
McIver Shane
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1002/hpja.192
Subject(s) - mindfulness , burnout , meditation , mental health , stressor , clinical psychology , psychological intervention , psychology , qualitative property , public health , medicine , applied psychology , nursing , psychotherapist , philosophy , theology , machine learning , computer science
Issue addressed Identifying ways to manage the psychological and emotional costs of workplace stress is essential. Mindfulness meditation is reported to support mental well‐being; however, findings are limited in Australian business settings. Accordingly, this study explored the efficacy of a mindfulness meditation program tailored for an Australian public‐sector workplace. Methods A mixed‐methods, single‐group, pre‐/post‐test design was used to evaluate a proof‐of‐concept mindfulness intervention. Quantitative measures included the Perceived Stress Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Survey data were collected to analyse participant experiences. Participants (n = 65) were recruited from a government organisation. The 8‐week program ran weekly for 45 minutes and had a 65% retention rate. Resources were provided to support home practice. Results Statistically significant decreases were obtained for perceived stress ( d = 0.8) and emotional exhaustion ( d = 0.4). Themes from qualitative findings suggested participants experienced an increased recognition of stress triggers, increased ability to detach from stressors, increased calmness and increased ability to prioritise work. Conclusions Qualitative results extend comparable quantitative research by detailing how an appropriately tailored 8‐week meditation‐based program has the potential to decrease perceived stress in highly stressful work environments. So what? Triangulated data suggest that an appropriately adapted mindfulness meditation program can be an effective, efficient and low‐cost inclusion within an organisation's health promotion repertoire to help increase mental health among staff.