AIZEN Digital Meditation Intervention for Caregiver Burnout in Taiwan—A Pilot Randomized Trial
Ying‐Erh Chen, Chia-Chun Liu, Yi-Chun Chen, Yu-Ping Hsiao, Kuo-Hong Lee, Hung‐Yi Chiou, Chia-Ming Yen, Ren‐Hua Chung
Mindfulness May 2, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-026-02854-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 57 |
| Population | Meditation-naïve professional and informal caregivers in Taiwan |
| Intervention | digitally supported mindfulness meditation program |
| Duration | 5-week intervention, 5-week follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Burnout Randomized controlled trial Intervention counseling Digital health Physical therapy Public health Clinical psychology Psychotherapist |
| Registration | NCT07188454 |
| Key findings | A brief, digitally supported mindfulness meditation program reduced personal and work-related burnout among professional caregivers in Taiwan, but did not affect client-related burnout or informal caregiver burden. |
Abstract
Caregiver stress is a global health issue, particularly acute in Taiwan due to demographic and cultural factors. While mindfulness meditation is effective for burnout, research on culturally adapted, digitally delivered interventions for Taiwanese caregivers is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a brief, 5-week, digitally supported meditation program for professional and informal caregivers in Taiwan. We conducted a randomized, stratified, wait-list control trial with 57 meditation-naïve caregivers (42 professional, 15 informal). The intervention combined weekly live online sessions with daily guided practice via the AIZEN digital platform. Primary outcomes for professionals were personal, work-related, and client-related burnout, measured by the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. The secondary outcome for informal caregivers was burden, measured by the Zarit Burden Interview. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 5-week follow-up (T3). Compared to the wait-list group, the immediate-intervention professional caregivers showed significantly greater reductions from T1 to T2 in personal burnout ( β = 12.50, p = 0.011) and work-related burnout ( β = 11.43, p = 0.015). The effect on work-related burnout was replicated in the primary analysis and maintained at follow-up, though this lost significance in a sensitivity analysis. No significant effects were found for client-related burnout or informal caregiver burden. A brief, digitally supported mindfulness meditation program is a feasible, effective approach for reducing personal and work-related burnout among professional caregivers in Taiwan. These findings support the implementation of scalable digital mental health tools and warrant investigation in larger trials. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07188454.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 14
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- How long does a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program need to be? A review of class contact hours and effect sizes for psychological distress Journal of Clinical Psychology March 23, 2009
- The Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory: Extensions, Applications, and Challenges at the Attention–Appraisal–Emotion Interface Psychological Inquiry October 2, 2015
- Digital Meditation to Target Employee Stress: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open January 2, 2025
and 9 more in the library