scholarly journals Positive Effects of Workplace Meditation Training and Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Leila Karimi ◽  
Stephen P Kent ◽  
Sandra G. Leggat ◽  
Jiri Rada ◽  
Alison Angleton

There is evidence that meditation is a powerful organisational tool for enhancing employee effectiveness, wellbeing, and job satisfaction; however, experimental studies on the effects of meditation on other organisational factors such as presenteeism and emotional intelligence are limited. This study investigated the impact of meditation on mindfulness, emotional intelligence, job satisfaction, and job stress-related presenteeism in an Australian workplace. Participants learned and practised an 'Auto Transcending Meditation Technique’ (ATMT) at their workplace. The study used the switching replications experimental design, comparing an intervention group with a control group. Quantitative data analysis used descriptive statistics and repeated measures to compare the mean pre-post intervention differences. Thematic analysis was completed on qualitative data gathered in focus groups and from the training evaluation. As a consequence of ATMT, participants showed significant improvements in their levels of mindfulness and emotional intelligence. Thematic analysis indicated that participants felt the meditation training and practice led to positive personal changes. In addition, the results showed that higher mindfulness buffers the effect of stress-related presenteeism on participants’ mental and physical health. Our results demonstrate that meditation training and practice enhances mindfulness and emotional intelligence, with benefits for employees’ physical and mental health.  Workplace meditation should be considered in health promoting work settings.  

2021 ◽  
pp. 014303432110250
Author(s):  
Celeste Simões ◽  
Anabela C. Santos ◽  
Paula Lebre ◽  
João R. Daniel ◽  
Cátia Branquinho ◽  
...  

Resilience is an individual’s ability to adapt successfully to and persevere during and after significant challenges. Resilience programmes based on a socioemotional learning approach have been associated with an increase in protextive factors (e.g., prosocial competencies), improvements in physical and mental health, and a decrease in internalised and externalised symptoms. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the RESCUR curriculum implemented in Portuguese schools on students’ academic, behavioural, and socioemotional outcomes, based on child and teacher reports. Participants included 1,084 children (53.2% male) aged 3-15 ( M = 7.24, SD = 2.31). A quasi-experimental study compared outcomes for an experimental intervention group (AIG) with a waiting list control group (WG). The results showed the RESCUR programme decreased mental health difficulties while increasing both prosocial behaviours and well-being. In addition, academic performance increased for those in preschool after implementation. Both teachers and children consistently reported positive behavioural changes in resilience-related competencies after implementing RESCUR. Our findings contribute to the recent research on the potential of RESCUR to address key socioemotional competencies and improve relevant protextive factors. Study limitations and future recommendations are addressed.


2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Simon Paul Meeûs ◽  
Sidónio Serpa ◽  
Bert De Cuyper

This study examined the effects of video feedback on the nonverbal behavior of handball coaches, and athletes’ and coaches’ anxieties and perceptions. One intervention group (49 participants) and one control group (63 participants) completed the Coaching Behavior Assessment System, Coaching Behavior Questionnaire, and Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 on two separate occasions, with 7 weeks of elapsed time between each administration. Coaches in the intervention condition received video feedback and a frequency table with a comparison of their personal answers and their team’s answers on the CB AS. Repeated-measures ANOVAs showed that over time, athletes in the intervention group reported significantly less anxiety and perceived their coaches significantly more positively compared with athletes in the nonintervention condition. Over time, coaches in the intervention group perceived themselves significantly more positively than coaches in the nonintervention condition. Compared with field athletes, goalkeepers were significantly more anxious and perceived their coaches less positively. It is concluded that an intervention using video feedback might have positive effects on anxiety and coach perception and that field athletes and goalkeepers possess different profiles.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S975-S975
Author(s):  
Marilyn R Gugliucci ◽  
Erica Robertson ◽  
Ashley Cronkright ◽  
Sujaay Jagannathan

Abstract Introduction: The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine U-ExCEL Program was established in 2006 and specializes in older adult fitness and balance programming. Falls account for $54 billion costs in direct and Indirect costs. Methods: This randomized control single blinded pilot project included an 8 week intervention to measure the impact of supported consistent individual balance programming in individuals’ apartments for a select group of older adults residing in a life care living environment. Twenty residents (75-92 y/o) were recruited, however 12 participants (6 intervention/6 control group) participated in the study. The remaining 8 participants were pulled from the wait list as attrition occurred. Demographic data collection and 6 validated assessments were conducted at baseline and at study completion. The intervention group conducted the Balancing Act (Falls Prevention) Program 3 times/week with social support. The control group only received social support. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, SAS 5.1 was used for non-parametric Mann-Whitney U Test (Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test); a repeated measures ANOVA was also conducted. Results: The effects of the intervention (Balancing Act Program) on Oxygen Saturation (p=0.009), Wong Baker Score (p=0.008), and the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) 2 (p=0.008) test were statistically significant. The effect of the intervention on all other variables was not statistically significant including validated balance measures. Conclusion: Quantitative measures failed so show significant improvement in balance from the start to the end of the intervention; however improvements were experienced and expressed by the intervention group. Social Support is necessary for adherence.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra K Moser ◽  
Sharon McKinley ◽  
Barbara Riegel ◽  
Lynn V Doering ◽  
Hendrika Meischke ◽  
...  

Background: Patient delay in seeking treatment for ACS symptoms remains a substantial problem with most people delaying more than 2 hours before they seek treatment. Thus, it is vital to test interventions to improve this behavior, but at the same time it is essential that such interventions not increase anxiety. Given that these interventions seek to decrease patient denial of the seriousness of symptoms, it is possible that they may increase anxiety. Purpose: To determine the impact on anxiety of an individual face-to-face education and counseling intervention designed to decrease patient delay in seeking treatment for ACS symptoms. Methods: This was a multicenter randomized (intervention vs. usual care) controlled trial of the intervention in which anxiety data were collected (using the Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist) at baseline, 3-months and 12-months after the intervention. A total of 3522 patients with confirmed coronary artery disease (CAD) who were at risk for ACS were enrolled; data from 2597 patients with complete anxiety data at all three time points are included here. There were no differences in patients completing all three time points and those who did not. The intervention consisted of a 45 minute education and counseling session, reinforced by a phone call one month later in which the social, cognitive and emotional responses to ACS symptoms were discussed as were barriers to early treatment seeking. Repeated measures ANCOVA was used to compare anxiety levels across time between the groups controlling for age and gender. Results: There were significant differences in anxiety by group (p = 0.014). Anxiety level was stable in patients in the control group, but decreased by 10% at 3 months in the intervention group and remained at this reduced level at 12 months. Conclusion: An intervention designed to reduce patient delay in seeking treatment for ACS symptoms did not increase anxiety, but rather was associated with a reduction in anxiety. Interventions in which CAD patients directly confront the possibility of an acute cardiac event do not cause anxiety if they provide patients with appropriate strategies for managing symptoms.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. e40-e47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen S. Rodriguez ◽  
Meredeth Rowe ◽  
Loris Thomas ◽  
Jonathan Shuster ◽  
Brent Koeppel ◽  
...  

Background Sudden speechlessness is common in critically ill patients who are intubated or have had surgery for head and neck cancer. Sudden inability to speak poses challenges for hospitalized patients because strategies to facilitate communication are often limited and unreliable. Objective To determine the impact of a technology-based communication intervention on patients’ perception of communication difficulty, satisfaction with communication methods, and frustration with communication. Methods A quasi-experimental, 4-cohort (control and intervention) repeated-measures design was used. Data were collected daily for up to 10 days. Patients in adult critical care units were followed up as they were transferred to other units within the institutions selected for the study. The impact of a technology-based communication system (intervention) was compared with usual care (control). Patients’ communication outcomes pertinent to communication with nursing staff that were evaluated included perception of communication ease, satisfaction with methods used for communication, and frustration with communication. Results Compared with participants in the control group, participants in the intervention group reported lower mean frustration levels (−2.68; SE, 0.17; 95% CI, −3.02 to −2.34; P < .001) and higher mean satisfaction levels (0.59; SE, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.91; P < .001) with use of the communication intervention. Participants in the intervention group reported a consistent increase in perception of communication ease during the hospital stay. Conclusions The results facilitated evaluation of a bedside technology-based communication intervention tailored to the needs of suddenly speechless critically ill patients.


Author(s):  
Feifei Wang ◽  
Szilvia Boros

Abstract Purpose Walking has beneficial effects on sleep quality in elderly population and patients in clinical settings. However, less is known whether walking improves sleep quality among healthy young adults. This study examined the effectiveness of a 12-week walking intervention on sleep quality among sedentary young adults. Methods Fifty-four healthy adults aged 19 to 36-years old participated a pedometer based aerobic walking intervention, a cross-over randomized control trial. Participants were assigned into two groups (group A and group B) randomly. The 12-week intervention was divided into three sessions equally. Sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) before and after session 1 and session 3. Omron HJ-112 pedometer and daily walking diary facilitated the intervention process. Within group and between group comparisons were made for statistical analysis. Results Within group comparison by repeated measures showed that sleep duration (p < 0.01, F-test 22.79), sleep medication (p < 0.05, F-test 5.22), subjective sleep (p < 0.05, F-test 5.51) and global sleep quality (p < 0.01, F-test 12.19) were significantly improved. The comparison between intervention group and control group showed that sleep disturbance was significantly improved (p < 0.05). Conclusion Daily walking exercise has a significant effect on facilitating sleep quality and sleep components among young adults. Further studies are suggested to examine the impact of walking intensity on sleep quality.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jila Mirlashari ◽  
Liisa Holsti ◽  
Hadi Ranjbar ◽  
Mahnaz Sanjari ◽  
Fatemeh Morovati ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Premature birth and postpartum hospitalization can hurt the father-newborn bonding and fathers’ self-efficacy in the care of the newborn. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the involvement of fathers with premature newborns on paternal-infant bonding and self-efficacy based on developmental care principles.Methods: This was a non-randomized clinical trial. Eighty fathers of hospitalized newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit were selected by convenience sampling method and divided into two groups ( 1 ). The intervention comprised training developmental care to fathers through simulations and then at the bedside of the newborn and the active involvement of fathers in the care of premature newborns admitted to the NICU. Pre-and post-intervention outcomes (after four weeks) were collected using Mother to Infant Bonding Scale and Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy tool. Differences between groups were analyzed using independent t-test, paired t-test, repeated measures ANOVA.Results: The mean bonding score reduced by 2.3 ± 2.17 in the control group and 5.27 ± 2. 57 in the intervention group. A lower score represents a better bonding (f (1.78) = 9.19, p = 0.003). The self-efficacy score increased in both groups however, it was significantly higher in intervention group. In the intervention group increased by 8.85 ± 5.046, and in the control group, it increased by 1.27± 3.31, (f (1.78) = 21.88, p <0.001).Conclusions: Developmental care by fathers training and involvement in care can improve the father -infant bonding and increase the paternal self-efficacy for the care of the high risk newborn.Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials: IRCT20171010036690N1, 2018-01-31.


Author(s):  
María-José Cantero ◽  
Raquel Bañuls ◽  
Paz Viguer

There is clear agreement about the importance of promoting emotional intelligence in school through programs integrated in the academic curriculum. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of the EDI program on the emotional intelligence trait and on general academic performance, as well as mathematics and language performance. The participants were 5th grade elementary school students between 10 and 11 years old. A quasi-experimental repeated-measures design was used, with a comparison group and four assessment points. The results showed, on the one hand, the effectiveness of a two-year intervention in improving emotional intelligence and, on the other hand, its positive influence on academic performance in general, and specifically on mathematics and language performance. In the non-intervention group, general academic performance and language performance declined. The results are discussed, and recommendations are made for future interventions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1287-1287
Author(s):  
Janet Antwi

Abstract Objectives Malnutrition among children, and adolescents remains a crucial public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Nutrition education contributes to acquisition of nutrition knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) which may lead to improved nutrition status and health, and brings greatest benefits to the poor and the most vulnerable particularly school-age children (SAC). We evaluated the impact of a 6-week nutrition education intervention on nutrition KAP, and nutrition status of SAC. The effect of nutrition education training on the knowledge of teachers and caregivers was also evaluated. Methods Pretest-posttest controlled design was used in elementary schools in Ghana. A total of 325 SAC 6–12 years old, 6 teachers and 99 caregivers completed the study. Nutrition KAP were estimated using a standardized questionnaire. Nutrition status was calculated using height and weight measurements. Results Schoolchildren in the intervention group had significantly higher knowledge scores (8.8 ± 2.0 vs. 5.9 ± 2.1, P &lt; 0.0001) compared to controls in lower elementary level. The attitude of children in learning about food and nutrition issues was a higher proportion in the intervention group as compared to control group (88% vs. 77%, P = 0.031). Dietary diversity score did not differ significantly between intervention and control groups (4.8 ± 2.0 vs. 5.1 ± 1.4, P = 0.184). Intervention group had a marginally lower proportion of stunted SAC at the end of the study period as compared to control group (3.6% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.080). The nutrition knowledge of teachers, and caregivers significantly improved (12.5 ± 1.87 vs. 9.2 ± 2.1; P = 0.031) and (5.85 ± 0.73 to 6.29 ± 1.02, P = 0.009), respectively. Conclusions Nutrition education could have positive effects for passing on nutrition knowledge, and attitudes to elementary school children which are essential to developing healthy behaviors, and managing nutrition status. Funding Sources This study was funded by the Institute of International Education with award of the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program.


Author(s):  
Katarzyna Wolnicka ◽  
Anna Małgorzata Taraszewska ◽  
Joanna Jaczewska-Schuetz

Background: The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) was developed to form the habit of eating fruit and vegetables (F&V) among children. The survey aimed to identify both the strengths of the scheme and areas that required support and strengthening in the further implementation of school schemes. Methods: The study was conducted from 2012 to 2015 among students of randomly selected 85 primary schools that participated in the programme (intervention group) or did not participate therein (control group). The F&V consumption among the students was evaluated based on the 3 day food record method. Other behaviours were evaluated via frequency and preference questionnaires. Results: Over the three years of implementing SFVS, fruit consumption significantly increased by approximately 30 g/day, i.e., by 18%. In the control group, it increased only by approximately 4%. At the same time, no increase in vegetable consumption was observed. A number of other positive effects of SFVS were also found. These concerned students’ nutritional attitudes and behaviours, such as a further increase in the children’s knowledge on the health aspects of F&V consumption, the levels of their consumption and an increased preference for fruit in general. Conclusions: The results indicate that providing F&V in schools free of charge can be an effective strategy for enhancing F&V consumption among children, in particular by raising the awareness of the health importance of F&V consumption and gradually influencing children’s eating habits, especially when it comes to the habit of fruit consumption. The issue of vegetable consumption is an area for intervention enhancement. There is also a need for further, in-depth analyses, taking into account the impact of potential confounding factors.


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