A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Smartphone-Based Well-Being Training in Public School System Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Matthew J. Hirshberg, Corrina Frye, Cortland J. Dahl, Kevin M. Riordan, Nate Vack, Jane Sachs, Robin I. Goldman, Richard J. Davidson, Simon B. Goldberg
March 30, 2021 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/hrvmu (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pragmatic randomized wait-list controlled trial Preregistered |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 662 |
| Population | School system employees (64% teachers) |
| Duration | 4-week intervention, 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Keywords | Randomized controlled trial Promotion chess Mental health Pandemic Extant taxon Distress Intervention counseling Well-being Clinical psychology Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | Assignment to the Healthy Minds Program predicted significantly larger reductions in psychological distress at post-intervention and at three-month follow-up, with similar benefits on all six secondary outcomes. |
Abstract
While the extraordinary pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic on student mental health have received considerable attention, less attention has been placed on the well-being of educators. School system employees play a vital role in society, and teacher levels of well-being are associated with the educational outcomes of young people. We extend extant research on the prevalence and correlates of educator distress during the pandemic by reporting on a pragmatic randomized wait-list controlled trial (N=662; 64% teachers) of an innovative mental health promotion strategy implemented during the pandemic; a freely available four-week smartphone-based meditation app designed to train key constituents of well-being (Healthy Minds Program; HMP). Following our preregistered analysis plan and consistent with hypotheses, assignment to the HMP predicted significantly larger reductions in psychological distress, our primary outcome, at post-intervention (Cohen’s d=-0.52, 95% confidence interval [-0.68, -0.37], p<.001) and at the three-month follow-up (d=-0.33 [-0.48, -0.18], p<.001). Also consistent with hypotheses, we observed similar indications of immediate and sustained benefit following the HMP on all six preregistered secondary outcomes selected to tap skills targeted in the app (e.g., perseverative thinking, social connection, well-being; absolute ds=0.19-0.42, all ps<.031 corrected). We found no evidence for elevated adverse events and the HMP was equally effective among participants with elevated baseline anxiety and depressive symptoms. These data suggest that the HMP may be an effective and scalable approach to supporting the mental health and well-being of teachers and other school system employees, with implications for employee retention and performance, and student outcomes.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Effects of a mindfulness-based intervention and a health self-management programme on psychological well-being in older adults with subjective cognitive decline: Secondary analyses from the SCD-Well randomised clinical trial. PLoS One 2023
- Meditation, Mindfulness, and Acceptance Psychotherapy Skills and Methods That Work September 28, 2023
Cites 14
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and 9 more in the library