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

NCT ID: NCT03695627

Last Updated: 2020-11-06

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

165 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-07-13

Study Completion Date

2020-06-20

Brief Summary

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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.

Detailed Description

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High levels of psychosocial work-related stress have major implications for both the employee and the employer. Epidemiological studies consistently demonstrate associations between high work stress and worse self-reported mental and physical health, including depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Job strain, a combination of high demands and low control, is a common model used to define psychosocial stress at work. Job strain is associated with worse mental and physical health, including anxiety and depressive disorders and increased blood pressure.

Past studies show the value in mindfulness applications. For example, participants who completed 25 or more meditation sessions over 8 weeks also had significantly lower self-measured systolic blood pressure over the course of one day compared to the control condition participants at the follow-up time point. This trial suggests that almost daily brief mindfulness meditations delivered via smartphone can improve outcomes related to workplace stress and well-being, with potentially lasting effects.

In this study, investigators hope to determine if a stress-reduction mindfulness application is more effective than a waitlist control condition in employees who are experiencing mild to moderate levels of stress in various health and productivity-related outcomes.

Conditions

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Stress, Psychological

Keywords

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

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Investigators
Investigator will be blind to condition throughout data accrual.

Study Groups

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Meditation Group

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

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Meditation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

10 minute a day, 8 week digital meditation

Control Group

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

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Meditation

10 minute a day, 8 week digital meditation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 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

Exclusion Criteria

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

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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The University of California's Healthy Campus Network

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Headspace Meditation Limited

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of California, San Francisco

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of California, Riverside

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Kate Sweeny

Professor of Psychology

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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University of California, Riverside

Riverside, California, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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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

Reference Type 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

Reference Type 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

Reference Type 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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23327240 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 7863299 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24413342 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26290327 (View on PubMed)

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

Reference Type 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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14759692 (View on PubMed)

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

Reference Type 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

Reference Type 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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22352291 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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HS-18-031

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id