scholarly journals Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Teachers: A Meta-Analysis of the Emerging Evidence-Base

Author(s):  
David A. Klingbeil ◽  
Tyler L Renshaw

Teachers report high levels of occupational stress, which is associated with teacher turnover and potential negative consequences for students. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may improve the protective factors that buffer educators against occupational stress. Although previous meta-analytic reviews synthesized the effects of MBIs for healthy and clinical samples of adults, this study was the first to synthesize the effects of MBIs for teachers (grades pre-K through 12). A total of 347 effect sizes from 29 studies (N = 1,493) were synthesized using meta-regression with robust variance estimation. Overall, MBIs had a medium treatment effect on teacher outcomes (g = .601, SE = .089). Visual and statistical evidence of publication bias suggested this estimate may be positively biased. Three potential study-level moderators for overall effects were also examined, but none were statistically significant. MBIs were associated with small-to-medium positive effects on therapeutic processes and therapeutic outcomes. MBIs had the smallest effects on measures of classroom climate and instructional practices. Overall, findings were similar to other meta-analytic reviews of MBIs for non-clinical adult populations and working professionals. The literature on MBIs for teachers appears to have similar gaps as research on MBIs for adults (e.g., Davison & Kaszniak, 2015), including the primary use of self-report measures, the lack of active treatment comparisons, and rare reporting of treatment fidelity data. Directions for future research and implications are discussed. [*Note: Supplemental online materials cited in the paper are included in the preprint document following the main paper.]

2020 ◽  
pp. 001440292096918
Author(s):  
Asha K. Jitendra ◽  
Ahmed Alghamdi ◽  
Rebecca Edmunds ◽  
Nicole M. McKevett ◽  
John Mouanoutoua ◽  
...  

This meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of supplemental Tier-2 mathematics interventions for students with mathematics difficulties (MD). We reviewed 39 experimental and quasi-experimental studies that included 40 independent samples, with 61 treatment groups. Utilizing robust variance estimation (RVE), results revealed a treatment effect of 0.41. Mixed-effects meta-regression analyses revealed that Tier-2 interventions were moderated by intervention model type, group size, and type of measure. We present recommendations for future research and implementation of mathematics practices.


2020 ◽  
pp. 152483802097608
Author(s):  
Isabel Eggers del Campo ◽  
Janina Isabel Steinert

Women’s economic empowerment is an essential component of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Not only is it an end in itself but it has further been promoted for its potential to create positive externalities, including the reduction of intimate partner violence (IPV). However, the link between economic empowerment and the risk of IPV remains theoretically ambiguous. Marital dependency theory predicts that women with more financial resources hold higher bargaining power and are in a better position to leave potentially abusive relationships. Conversely, Resource theory posits that an increase in women’s financial resources may clash with traditional gender roles, which may prompt their partner to reassert their status through violent means. In light of this debate, we conducted a meta-analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials assessing the impact of economic empowerment interventions on IPV. Based on a total sample size of 44,772 participants and robust variance estimation, our meta-analysis shows that women’s economic empowerment was associated with a significant reduction in the pooled measure of emotional, sexual, and physical IPV. We further documented tentative evidence suggesting that these effects may be amplified when additional gender sensitization training is included in such programs. Despite the overall positive effects, some included studies reported increases in IPV, primarily in the form of partners exerting controlling behavior and dominance over financial resources. Our results therefore emphasize a need to prioritize women’s safety in the process of designing economic empowerment programs and to closely monitor the potential risk of conflict and violence within beneficiaries’ households.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S477-S477
Author(s):  
Phoebe E Bailey ◽  
Tarren Leon

Abstract This systematic review and meta-analysis quantifies the magnitude and breadth of age-related differences in trust. Thirty-eight independent data sets met criteria for inclusion. Overall, there was a moderate effect of age group on trust (g = 0.22), whereby older adults were more trusting than young adults. Three additional meta-analyses assessed age-related differences in trust in response to varying degrees of trustworthiness. This revealed that older adults were more trusting than young adults in response to neutral (g = 0.31) and negative (g = 0.33), but not positive (g = 0.15), indicators of trustworthiness. The effect of age group on trust in response to positive and neutral cues was moderated by type of trust (financial vs. non-financial) and type of responding (self-report vs. behavioral). Older adults were more trusting than young adults in response to positive and neutral indicators of trustworthiness when trust was expressed non-financially, but not financially. There was also an age-related increase in self-reported, but not behavioral, trust in response to neutral cues. Older adults were more trusting than young adults in response to negative indicators of trustworthiness regardless of the type of trust or type of responding. The reliability of information about trustworthiness (superficial vs. genuine cues) did not moderate any effects of age on trust. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (Spring 2020) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise Hawkes

Refugees have a variety of mental health needs due to their experiences, including trauma, anxiety, and depression. Psychotherapy, one of the main modalities for treatment, presents limitations including language barriers and negative stigmas. Music therapy might help to overcome these limitations due to its reliance upon music, rather than verbal language, as the therapeutic medium, and due to music’s ubiquitous cultural prevalence. Music therapy has been shown to have positive effects on sleep quality, well- being, trauma symptoms, social function, and mood. Music therapy training and research results have demonstrated ways to connect with clients through music and overcome cross-cultural barriers. The objective of this case study was to determine the effects of group music therapy on levels of anxiety, depression, well-being, functional disability, and distress in two adult Congolese refugees. Further, the study explored the themes which the participants reported they preferred and were most likely to use on their own regarding the music interventions. A mixed-methods approach was used to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. The study involved eight weekly, one hour-long music therapy sessions following a protocol that included four themes: socialization, emotional expression, English-learning, and personalized use of music. Levels of anxiety, depression, well-being, and functional disability were assessed using psychometric tests before the first session, after the fourth session, and after the eighth session. The data found overall decreased levels of anxiety, depression, and distress, increased levels of well-being, and little change in level of functional disability. Prevalent themes from the self-report questionnaire were instrument playing, singing, listening, and the hello song. Conclusions and recommendations for future research are included.


Author(s):  
Tim Whitfield ◽  
Thorsten Barnhofer ◽  
Rebecca Acabchuk ◽  
Avi Cohen ◽  
Michael Lee ◽  
...  

AbstractMindfulness-based programs (MBPs) are increasingly utilized to improve mental health. Interest in the putative effects of MBPs on cognitive function is also growing. This is the first meta-analysis of objective cognitive outcomes across multiple domains from randomized MBP studies of adults. Seven databases were systematically searched to January 2020. Fifty-six unique studies (n = 2,931) were included, of which 45 (n = 2,238) were synthesized using robust variance estimation meta-analysis. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses evaluated moderators. Pooling data across cognitive domains, the summary effect size for all studies favored MBPs over comparators and was small in magnitude (g = 0.15; [0.05, 0.24]). Across subgroup analyses of individual cognitive domains/subdomains, MBPs outperformed comparators for executive function (g = 0.15; [0.02, 0.27]) and working memory outcomes (g = 0.23; [0.11, 0.36]) only. Subgroup analyses identified significant effects for studies of non-clinical samples, as well as for adults aged over 60. Across all studies, MBPs outperformed inactive, but not active comparators. Limitations include the primarily unclear within-study risk of bias (only a minority of studies were considered low risk), and that statistical constraints rendered some p-values unreliable. Together, results partially corroborate the hypothesized link between mindfulness practices and cognitive performance. This review was registered with PROSPERO [CRD42018100904].


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanda C. van Hoeve ◽  
Robin W.M. Vernooij ◽  
Michelle Fiander ◽  
Peter Nieboer ◽  
Sabine Siesling ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Pathways are frequently used to improve care for cancer patients. However, there is little evidence about the effects of pathways used in oncological care. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to identify, and synthesise existing literature on the effects of pathways in oncological care. Methods: All patients diagnosed with cancer in primary and secondary/tertiary care whose treatment can be characterized as the strategy “care pathways” are included in this review. A systematic search in seven databases was conducted to gather evidence. Studies were screened by two independent reviewers. Study outcomes regarding patients, professionals and system level were extracted from each study. Results: Out of 13,847 search results, we selected 158 articles eligible for full text assessment. 150 studies were excluded and the remaining eight studies represented 4,786 patients. Most studies were conducted in secondary/tertiary care. Length of Stay (LOS) was the most common used indicator, and was reported in five studies. Meta-analysis based on subgroups showed an overall shorter LOS regarding gastric cancer (Weighted Mean Difference (WMD)): -2.75, CI: -4.67–-0.83) and gynaecological cancer (WMD: -1.58, CI: -2.10–-1.05). Costs were reported in six studies and most studies reported lower costs for pathway groups. Conclusions: Despite the differences between the included studies, we were able to present an evidence base for cancer care pathways performed in secondary/tertiary care regarding the positive effects of LOS in favour of cancer care pathways. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42017057592


2020 ◽  
pp. 027243162097853
Author(s):  
Karlijn W. J. de Jonge-Heesen ◽  
Sanne P. A. Rasing ◽  
Ad A. Vermulst ◽  
Yuli R. Tak ◽  
Rutger C. M. E. Engels ◽  
...  

Adolescent depression is a major concern for public health and is associated with negative consequences and outcomes. Identifying adolescent characteristics that might relate to the risk for developing depression is crucial. This study investigated bidirectional associations between coping strategies and depressive symptoms over time. The participants were 1,341 secondary school students from the Netherlands ([Formula: see text] = 13.91, SD = 0.55, 47.5% girls) who completed self-report questionnaires at six waves over 2.5 years. Cross-lagged models were used to investigate the associations between coping strategies and depressive symptoms. Coping strategies did not predict depressive symptoms over time. However, there was an indication of the reverse relationship. When adolescents experienced elevated depressive symptoms, they used fewer adaptive techniques to target stress. Gender differences were found in the use of avoidance. The inconsistencies of these findings with earlier studies are discussed and provide new directions for future research on working mechanisms underlying depression prevention programs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Jacobsen ◽  
Matthew Richardson ◽  
Emma Harding ◽  
Paul Chadwick

Background: There is an emerging evidence base that mindfulness for psychosis is a safe and effective intervention. However, empirical data on the within-session effects of mindfulness meditation was hitherto lacking. Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of taking part in a mindfulness for psychosis group, using a within-session self-report measure of general stress, and symptom-related distress. Method: Users of a secondary mental health service (n = 34), who experienced enduring psychotic symptoms, took part in an 8-week mindfulness for psychosis group in a community setting. Mindfulness meditations were limited to 10 minutes and included explicit reference to psychotic experience arising during the practice. Participants self-rated general stress, and symptom-related distress, before and after each group session using a visual analogue scale. Results: Average ratings of general stress and symptom-related distress decreased from pre- to post-session for all eight sessions, although not all differences were statistically significant. There was no increase in general stress, or symptom-related distress across any session. Conclusions: There was evidence of positive effects and no evidence of any harmful effects arising from people with psychotic symptoms taking part in a mindfulness for psychosis session.


1980 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Lee Smith ◽  
Gene V Glass

Features of 59 studies of this relationship were coded and quantified and 371 findings were transformed into a common metric for statistical integration. Analysis, based on a logarithmic model, revealed a substantial relationship between class size and teacher and pupil attitudes as well as instruction. Favorable teacher effects (workload, morale, attitudes toward students) are associated with smaller classes as are favorable effects on students (self-concept, interest in school, participation). Smaller classes are associated with greater attempts to individualize instruction and better classroom climate. The results complement those of a previous meta-analysis that showed positive effects of class size on achievement.


2020 ◽  
pp. 074193252096491
Author(s):  
Mikyung Shin ◽  
Diane P. Bryant ◽  
Sarah R. Powell ◽  
Pyung-Gang Jung ◽  
Min Wook Ok ◽  
...  

In this meta-analysis of single-case designs, the researchers investigated the effects of word-problem instruction for students with learning disabilities in Grades 1 through 12, as reported in 20 peer-reviewed articles published between 1975 and 2020. A two-level multilevel model with a robust variance estimation method was implemented to calculate the effect sizes. A significant overall effect of word-problem instruction for students with learning disabilities was found, and the results indicate that studies meeting all three quality indicators of implementation fidelity (i.e., adherence, dosage, and regularity) showed greater effects. The average weighted effect sizes of word-problem instruction varied depending on the content and practice standards of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.


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