Mindfulness-based Social Work and Self-Care (MBSWSC)

NCT ID: NCT05519267

Last Updated: 2022-08-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 62 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-09-21
• Study Completion Date: 2022-04-29

Brief Summary

Social work is a stressful occupation with social workers at high risk of job-related stress and burnout. Mindfulness has been evidenced as a promising approach for improving: recovery from stress; behavioural responses to stress; and resilience.

The main aim of the study is to examine the efficacy of a bespoke, innovative, 6-session Mindfulness Intervention for social workers (MBSWSC) in reducing social worker stress, feelings of burnout, anxiety, low mood and improving well-being. The study will also compare outcomes from the MBSWSC with a briefer, condensed 3 session mindfulness programme (MBSC).

Detailed Description

Background: Social work is a stressful occupation with social workers at high risk of burnout. It is perhaps unsurprising then that research has focused on the impact of working conditions and work-related stress in this population. COVID has seemingly intensified pressures on frontline social workers, in turn adversely impacting their health and wellbeing.

Despite awareness of the impact of social work, job-related stress, and burnout, there remains a lack of evidence on the implementation and effectiveness of interventions to mitigate these aspects and improve outcomes for social workers. A novel, innovative approach, embedded in social work practice, is needed to support and improve social worker wellbeing. Mindfulness has emerged as a promising approach evidencing success in improving: recovery, cognitive, emotional and behavioural responses to stress. Mindfulness has also been highlighted as an approach by which resilience is strengthened. Mindfulness has been found to generate positive outcomes for those working in health and social care; promoting wellbeing, increasing levels of self-care and self-compassion, reducing stress, and combating burnout. Self-care (self-compassion) has been highlighted as an important promoter of positive health effects in social work.

Although possible benefits of mindfulness for social workers have been suggested, the evidence base to support this is scant, mainly due to a scarcity of mindfulness based intervention studies aimed at social workers. Traditionally there has been a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of briefer mindfulness programmes; with recognised programmes such as MBSR and MBCT requiring significant time commitments from participants which may not be suitable for practicing professionals. In light of this; there is a clear need for high quality RCTs to add to the evidence base in this area and to inform future provision.

With this in mind, this study looked to explore the efficacy of a bespoke, innovative, 6-session Mindfulness Intervention for social workers (MBSWSC). It also served to compare the outcomes from the MBSWSC programme with a modified, condensed 3 session mindfulness programme (MBSC).

More explicitly, this RCT aims to examine the:

• Efficacy of the MBSWSC programme at improving social worker stress, feelings of burnout, anxiety, low mood and well-being (primary outcomes).
• Effectiveness of MBSWSC in improving mindfulness, attention regulation, acceptance, self-compassion, non-attachment and aversion, worry and rumination (secondary outcomes).
• Differences between MBSWSC outcomes and outcomes on the MBSC

Methods: 93 participants providing consent to participate in the study were randomised to either the experimental (MBSWSC) or active control (MBSC) groups. 62 participants completed baseline measures; with post-intervention measures completed by 47 participants.

The primary outcome of the study is the efficacy of MBSWSC on social worker stress, feelings of burnout, anxiety, low mood and well-being and secondary outcomes. The secondary outcome of the study is the differences in outcomes for MBSWSC participants and participants on the modified, condensed (briefer) MBSC. Data will be collected pre-intervention, post-intervention and at 3 month follow-up.

Conditions

Stress; Burnout, Professional; Anxiety; Depression; Wellbeing

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

MBSWSC programme

The Experimental group will take part in the Mindfulness Based Social Work and Self Care (MBSWSC) programme (6 sessions). MBSWSC will be facilitated by two accredited mindfulness practitioners, who are also qualified social workers. Sessions will be supplemented by brief homework activities.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

MBSWSC

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

MBSWSC is a unique mindfulness-based programme for social work and self-care which has been specifically developed for online delivery. The MBSWSC programme is embedded within key cognitive and emotion regulation, and stress coping theory (Maddock et al. 2019a). This programme combines mindfulness practices with psychoeducation with the aim of allowing participants to reduce any negative thinking about the past and future by learning skills that will allow them to focus on the present. It will also focus on how to effectively apply these newly acquired mindfulness skills in social work practice. The MBSWSC programme comprises 6x1.5 hour sessions, delivered weekly, over a 6 week period. Homework, in the form of mindfulness practices, is given each week. This will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, on 6 out of 7 days, each week.

MBSC Programme

The Active comparator group will take part in the Mindfulness and Self-compassion (MBSC) programme (3 sessions). MBSC will be facilitated by two accredited mindfulness practitioners, who are also qualified social workers. Sessions will be supplemented by brief homework activities.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

MBSC

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

MBSC is a modified, condensed Mindfulness Based Intervention; with a key focus on self-compassion. Key practices in this condensed programme were chosen for their relevance and utility to social workers. The MBSC programme comprises 3x1 hour sessions delivered over a 6 week period, with one session every two weeks. Homework, in the form of mindfulness practices, is given each week. This will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, on 6 out of 7 days, each week.

Interventions

MBSWSC

MBSWSC is a unique mindfulness-based programme for social work and self-care which has been specifically developed for online delivery. The MBSWSC programme is embedded within key cognitive and emotion regulation, and stress coping theory (Maddock et al. 2019a). This programme combines mindfulness practices with psychoeducation with the aim of allowing participants to reduce any negative thinking about the past and future by learning skills that will allow them to focus on the present. It will also focus on how to effectively apply these newly acquired mindfulness skills in social work practice. The MBSWSC programme comprises 6x1.5 hour sessions, delivered weekly, over a 6 week period. Homework, in the form of mindfulness practices, is given each week. This will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, on 6 out of 7 days, each week.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

MBSC

MBSC is a modified, condensed Mindfulness Based Intervention; with a key focus on self-compassion. Key practices in this condensed programme were chosen for their relevance and utility to social workers. The MBSC programme comprises 3x1 hour sessions delivered over a 6 week period, with one session every two weeks. Homework, in the form of mindfulness practices, is given each week. This will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, on 6 out of 7 days, each week.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

Mindfulness Based Social Work and Self Care; Mindfulness and Self Care

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Frontline social work practitioner; Working in Northern Ireland; Aged 18 years and over

Exclusion Criteria

• Social workers in strategic social work roles with no contact with clients

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Queen's University, Belfast

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Karen McGuigan

Dr

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Alan Maddock, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Dublin, Trinity College

Locations

Queen's University Belfast

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Countries

United Kingdom

References

Maddock A, McGuigan K, McCusker P. A randomised trial of Mindfulness-based Social Work and Self-Care with social workers. Curr Psychol. 2023;42(11):9170-9183. doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-04410-w. Epub 2023 Feb 25.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 37200547 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

REF 204_2021

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id