A Yoga Stress Reduction Intervention for University Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Students

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Brems
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Repeated Measure ◽  
University Faculty ◽  
Home Practice ◽  
The Face ◽  
University Training

Yoga can be an effective intervention for physical and psychological symptoms and decreased ability to cope with physical, emotional, vocational, or academic stress. One group of individuals challenged regarding adequate self-care in the face of stress are personnel in university training programs for helping professions (e.g., psychology, nursing, nutrition). This feasibility study explored engagement in and effectiveness of a systematic 10-week yoga program aimed at university faculty, staff, and students. The intervention consisted of 10 weekly 90-minute sessions that were structured to include conceptual grounding, breathing, postures, and meditation. Weekly class outlines were made available to students for home practice. Participants signed informed consents, liability waivers, and health screenings. Self-reports of home practice, barriers to practice, perceived stress, and stress symptoms were used to evaluate whether the intervention was successful in engaging participants and reducing stress-related symptoms. Engagement was demonstrated by study adherence in the first 10-week series (88%; 44 of 50 enrolled), as well as re-enrollment for at least one additional 10-week series (64%; 28 of 44). Intervention success was demonstrated through repeated measure s ANOVAs of 44 participants' data, which showed significant improvement after a single 10-week series in perceived stress, as well as self-reported psychological, behavioral, and physical symptoms of stress. The study demonstrates feasibility of a yoga intervention in an academic setting and provides preliminary evidence for efficacy in stress reduction. It also supplies 10 detailed session protocols for intervention replication.

scholarly journals Stress in obstructive sleep apnea

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine L. Wong ◽  
Fernando Martinez ◽  
Andrea P. Aguila ◽  
Amrita Pal ◽  
Ravi S. Aysola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
General Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Obstructive Sleep

AbstractPeople with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) often have psychological symptoms including depression and anxiety, which are commonly treated with anti-depression or anti-anxiety interventions. Psychological stress is a related symptom with different intervention targets that may also improve mental state, but this symptom is not well characterized in OSA. We therefore aimed to describe stress in relation to other psychological symptoms. We performed a prospective cross-sectional study of 103 people, 44 untreated OSA (mean ± s.d. age: 51.2 ± 13.9 years, female/male 13/31) and 57 healthy control participants (age: 46.3 ± 13.8 years, female/male 34/23). We measured stress (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS), excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale; ESS), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9), and anxiety symptoms (General Anxiety Disorder; GAD-7). We compared group means with independent samples t-tests and calculated correlations between variables. Mean symptom levels were higher in OSA than control, including PSS (mean ± s.d.: OSA = 15.3 ± 6.9, control = 11.4 ± 5.5; P = 0.002), GAD-7 (OSA = 4.8 ± 5.0, control = 2.1 ± 3.9; P = 0.02), PHQ-9 (OSA = 6.9 ± 6.1, control = 2.6 ± 3.8; P = 0.003) and ESS (OSA = 8.1 ± 5.3, control = 5.0 ± 3.3; P = 0.03). Similar OSA-vs-control differences appeared in males, but females only showed significant differences in PHQ-9 and ESS, not PSS or GAD-7. PSS correlated strongly with GAD-7 and PHQ-9 across groups (R = 0.62–0.89), and moderately with ESS. Perceived stress is high in OSA, and closely related to anxiety and depressive symptoms. The findings support testing stress reduction in OSA.

scholarly journals Cancer and Complementary Therapies: Current Trends in Survivors’ Interest and Use

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 844-853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Qureshi ◽  
Erin Zelinski ◽  
Linda E. Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Complementary Therapies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Efficacy Trials ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Spiritual Well Being ◽  
Relaxation Exercises

Background. Cancer survivors use complementary therapies (CTs) for a variety of reasons; however, with interest and use reportedly on the rise and a widening range of products and practices available, there is a need to establish trends in and drivers of interest. We aimed to determine (1) frequencies of use, level of interest, and barriers for 30 specific CTs and (2) whether physical symptoms, perceived stress (PS), or spiritual well-being were related to interest levels. Method. A total of 212 cancer outpatients were surveyed at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Canada. Results. Overall, up to 75% of survivors already used some form of CTs since their diagnosis. The most highly used were the following: vitamins B12 and D, multivitamins, calcium, and breathing and relaxation exercises. Those who had not used CTs indicated highest interest in massage, vitamin B12, breathing and relaxation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and antioxidants. The most frequently reported barriers for all CTs were not knowing enough about what a therapy was and not having enough evidence on whether it worked. High PS predicted higher interest for all CTs, but spirituality was not significantly related to any. Physical symptoms, anxiety, and depression were significant predictors of interest for some CTs. Conclusion. These findings provide a blueprint for future clinical efficacy trials and highlight the need for clinical practice guidelines.

scholarly journals Preliminary Evidence That Yoga Practice Progressively Improves Mood and Decreases Stress in a Sample of UK Prisoners

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy C. Bilderbeck ◽  
Inti A. Brazil ◽  
Miguel Farias
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Yoga Practice ◽  
Class Attendance ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Prison Populations

Objectives. In the first randomized controlled trial of yoga on UK prisoners, we previously showed that yoga practice was associated with improved mental wellbeing and cognition. Here, we aimed to assess how class attendance, self-practice, and demographic factors were related to outcome amongst prisoners enrolled in the 10-week yoga intervention.Methods. The data of 55 participants (52 male, 3 female) who completed a 10-week yoga course were analysed. Changes in pre- and postyoga measures of affect, perceived stress, and psychological symptoms were entered into linear regression analyses with bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrap confidence intervals. Class attendance, self-practice, demographic variables, and baseline psychometric variables were included as regressors.Results. Participants who attended more yoga classes and those who engaged in frequent (5 times or more) self-practice reported significantly greater decreases in perceived stress. Decreases in negative affect were also significantly related to high frequency self-practice and greater class attendance at a near-significant level. Age was positively correlated with yoga class attendance, and higher levels of education were associated with greater decreases in negative affect.Conclusions. Our results suggest that there may be progressive beneficial effects of yoga within prison populations and point to subpopulations who may benefit the most from this practice.

Health Promotion and Prevention in Higher Music Education: Results of a Longitudinal Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark F Zander ◽  
Edgar Voltmer ◽  
Claudia Spahn
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Prevention Program ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Mental Techniques ◽  
University Training

OBJECTIVES: Music-related symptoms can already be found among student musicians during their years of university training. The goals of the present study were to ascertain the state and developmental course of the student musicians’ health and to test the effectiveness of a preventive curriculum given to student musicians during their first two semesters at university. METHODS: Within a longitudinal, observational study, we assessed students’ psychological and physical health during the first 2 years of university training. We compared data from the group of students who had followed the prevention program (intervention group, IG, n = 144) with data of a comparison group (CG, n = 103) of students who had not followed the program. Using standardized questionnaires, we measured physical and psychological symptoms as well as health behavior in a sequential plan (duration, 3.5 yrs). RESULTS: Student musicians (n = 247) showed elevated ratings in psychological and physical health in comparison with nonmusicians of the same age. These ratings decreased at the end of the students’ second year. The prevention program had a preventive effect on the students’ psychological health: while IG students remained stable in their performance and powers of concentration, CG students got worse in those same areas. However, the prevention program did not reduce physical symptoms. In comparison with their younger colleagues, upper-level students took more courses in body-oriented methods, relaxation, and mental techniques, which focus on preventive measures for musicians. CONCLUSION: At present, the study offers evidence supporting the use of the prevention curriculum for young musicians. In higher music education, preventive education has a positive impact on students’ performance and their attitude toward health. The preventive curriculum does not have an effect on preexisting physical symptoms, and those symptoms related to the student musicians’ activity should rather be treated in an additional therapeutic setting.

scholarly journals Heart Rate Variability as a Marker of Distress and Recovery: The Effect of Brief Supportive Expressive Group Therapy With Mindfulness in Cancer Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 825-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
HyeYoun Park ◽  
Sohee Oh ◽  
Yumi Noh ◽  
Ju Young Kim ◽  
Jeong-Hyun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Group Therapy ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Before And After

Objectives. We aimed to investigate the effects of brief supportive expressive group therapy with mindfulness for cancer patients and to assess the utility of heart rate variability (HRV) as a biomarker of distress and treatment effect. Methods. A total of 28 female patients with nonmetastatic cancer at a university hospital in South Korea received a 4-week modified group therapy for distress reduction. The BESTMIND (Brief Expression and Support Therapy with Mindfulness) program consisted of supportive–expressive group therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction. The subjective outcomes of distress, anger, sleep quality, and sense of well-being and the physiological outcome of HRV were assessed before and after the program. Results. After the program, patients showed significantly reduced distress, perceived stress, anger, and sleep disturbance and increased quality of life. No significant change was observed in the degree of mindfulness. A significantly increased SD in the normal beat-to-beat intervals and normalized high-frequency (HF 0.15-0.4 Hz) power from spectral analysis were observed after treatment. According to the correlation analyses, HF power correlated with depression scores, and normalized HF power was associated with depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and anger at baseline. The pretreatment and posttreatment comparison indicated that an increase in HF power was associated with a decrease in anger. Conclusions. These results suggest the effectiveness of this modified group-based program for distress reduction and also provide preliminary evidence for the use of HRV as a biomarker of distress and recovery. HF power from HRV variables may serve as a quantitative biomarker of the treatment response of distress management, including anger.

scholarly journals Prevalence of harm in mindfulness-based stress reduction

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Hirshberg ◽  
Simon B. Goldberg ◽  
Melissa Rosenkranz ◽  
Richard J. Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Paranoid Ideation ◽  
Waitlist Control ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Abstract Background Mindfulness meditation has become a common method for reducing stress, stress-related psychopathology and some physical symptoms. As mindfulness programs become ubiquitous, concerns have been raised about their unknown potential for harm. We estimate multiple indices of harm following Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on two primary outcomes: global psychological and physical symptoms. In secondary analyses, we estimate multiple indices of harm on anxiety and depressive symptoms, discomfort in interpersonal relations, paranoid ideation and psychoticism. Methods Intent-to-treat analyses with multiple imputations for missing data were used on pre- and post-test data from a large, observational dataset (n = 2155) of community health clinic MBSR classes and from MBSR (n = 156) and waitlist control (n = 118) participants from three randomized controlled trials conducted contemporaneous to community classes in the same city by the same health clinic MBSR teachers. We estimate the change in symptoms, proportion of participants with increased symptoms, proportion of participants reporting greater than a 35% increase in symptoms, and for global psychological symptoms, clinically significant harm. Results We find no evidence that MBSR leads to higher rates of harm relative to waitlist control on any primary or secondary outcome. On many indices of harm across multiple outcomes, community MBSR was significantly preventative of harm. Conclusions Engagement in MBSR is not predictive of increased rates of harm relative to no treatment. Rather, MBSR may be protective against multiple indices of harm. Research characterizing the relatively small proportion of MBSR participants that experience harm remains important.

The Role of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Perceived Stress: Preliminary Evidence for the Moderating Role of Attachment Style

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 258-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shari L. Cordon ◽  
Kirk Warren Brown ◽  
Pamela R. Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Adult Attachment Style ◽  
Stress Study ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

The current research investigated whether adult attachment style moderated the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) participation on levels of perceived stress. Study completing participants (secure group n = 65; insecure group n = 66) completed pre- and postintervention self-report assessments of perceived stress. The insecure group reported significantly higher stress levels prior to MBSR participation, but both groups showed significant pre–post intervention declines in perceived stress. Compared to the secure group, the insecure group also reported marginally lower perceived stress following MBSR participation. Study findings support the efficacy of MBSR for stress reduction across attachment style. Findings also suggest that MBSR participation may provide slightly greater stress reduction benefits for insecurely attached individuals.

scholarly journals Prevalence of harm in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew James Hirshberg ◽  
Simon Goldberg ◽  
Melissa A. Rosenkranz ◽  
Richard J Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Paranoid Ideation ◽  
Waitlist Control ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Background: Mindfulness meditation has become a common method for reducing stress, stress-related psychopathology and some physical symptoms. As mindfulness programs become ubiquitous, concerns have been raised about their unknown potential for harm. We estimate multiple indices of harm following Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on two primary outcomes: global psychological and physical symptoms. In secondary analyses we estimate multiple indices of harm on anxiety and depressive symptoms, discomfort in interpersonal relations, paranoid ideation and psychoticism. Methods: Intent-to-treat analyses with multiple imputation for missing data were used on pre- and post-test data from a large, observational dataset (n = 2155) of community health clinic MBSR classes and from MBSR (n = 156) and waitlist control (n = 118) participants from three randomized controlled trials conducted contemporaneous to community classes in the same city by the same health clinic MBSR teachers. We estimate change in symptoms, proportion of participants with increased symptoms, proportion of participants reporting greater than a 35% increase in symptoms, and for global psychological symptoms, clinically significant harm. Results: We find no evidence that MBSR leads to higher rates of harm relative to waitlist control on any primary or secondary outcome. On many indices of harm across multiple outcomes, community MBSR was significantly preventative of harm.Conclusions: Engagement in MBSR is not predictive of increased rates of harm relative to no treatment. Rather, MBSR may be protective against multiple indices of harm. Research characterizing the relatively small proportion of MBSR participants that experience harm remains important.

scholarly journals The effect of online multimedia psychoeducational interventions on the resilience and perceived stress of hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a pilot cluster randomized parallel-controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Shaygan ◽  
Zahra Yazdani ◽  
Adib Valibeygi
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychological Techniques ◽  
Psychological Pressure ◽  
Cluster Randomized ◽  
High Level ◽  
Psychoeducational Interventions

Abstract Background There is evidence suggesting that quarantine might have undesirable psychological impacts on the patients. Therefore, it is important to seek for ways to increase the resilience and alleviate the psychological pressure of the patients who are quarantined due to infection with COVID-19. The present study was conducted to assess an online multimedia psychoeducational intervention regarding the feasibility, adherence, patient satisfaction and effectiveness on resilience and perceived stress of patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19. Method This was a pilot cluster randomized parallel-controlled trial with hospital wards as the units of randomization. Participants in this fully online trial were 50 consecutive patients who were hospitalized in 2 hospitals in Shiraz, after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Before the beginning of the intervention, four inpatient wards inside two of the hospitals were randomly assigned to either intervention or control conditions. All eligible participants in the wards allocated to the intervention condition received online multimedia psychoeducational interventions during the 2 weeks, whilst the patients in the wards allocated to the control condition were offered the opportunity to receive telephone-based psychological counseling if needed. Psychoeducational interventions mainly included cognitive–behavioural techniques, stress management techniques, mindfulness-based stress reduction and positive psychotherapy. The patients were assessed regarding resilience and perceived stress at baseline and after two weeks. Results Of 27 patients starting multimedia psychoeducational interventions, 26 (96.29%) completed post-assessments. A high level of adherence (80.76%) and satisfaction (Mean = 29.42; SD = 4.18) with the online multimedia psychoeducational interventions was found. Compared with the control group, the patients who used online multimedia psychoeducational interventions reported greater resilience (Meanintervention = 81.74; Meancontrol = 72.86; adjusted t (46) = 2.10; p = 0.04; CI: 0.39 to 17.38; dppc2 = 0.83) and fewer perceived stress (Meanintervention = 22.15; Meancontrol = 29.45; adjusted t (46) = 2.66; p = 0.01; CI: − 12.81 to − 1.78; dppc2 = − 0.77) after 2 weeks. Discussion The findings of the present study provided a successful first attempt at implementing feasible online multimedia psychoeducational interventions to promote resilience and mitigate stress among the patients who were hospitalized due to infection with COVID-19. The present results could help mental health professionals to determine which psychological techniques should be emphasized to promote patients’ resilience in the context of COVID-19 disease. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20201001048893N1. Retrospectively registered, 29 Jan 2021.

scholarly journals Sleep quality and associated factors during the COVID-19 epidemic among community non-medical anti-epidemic Workers of Wuhan, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guanglin Si ◽  
Yi Xu ◽  
Mengying Li ◽  
Yuting Zhang ◽  
Shuzhen Peng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Poor Sleep Quality

Abstract Background Since the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019, community non-medical anti-epidemic workers have played an important role in the prevention of COVID-19 in China. The present study aimed to assess sleep quality and its associated factors among community non-medical anti-epidemic workers. Method A survey was conducted using anonymous online questionnaire to collect information from 16 March 2020 to 24 March 2020. A total of 474 participants were included, with a 94.23% completion rate. The questionnaire contained demographic data, physical symptoms, and contact history with COVID-19. The researchers assessed perceived social support by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), assessed perceived stress by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and measured sleep quality by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. Results Among the participants, 46.20% reported poor sleep quality. A binary logistic regression revealed that having educational background of junior college or above, being a member of the police force, having contacted individuals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection, having chronic disease(s), having illness within 2 weeks, and having high or moderate perceived stress were significant factors associated with an increased risk of poor sleep quality. Conclusion Demographic factors, physical symptoms, history of contact with COVID-19, and perceived stress are significantly associated with poor sleep quality of community non-medical anti-epidemic workers. Thus, targeting these factors might be helpful in enhancing sleep quality of community workers.

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