Mindfulness-Based Programs Improve Psychological Flexibility, Mental Health, Well-Being, and Time Management in Academics
Gabriel Marais, Sophie Lantheaume, Robin Fiault, Rebecca Shankland
European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education November 3, 2020 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe10040073 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Controlled trial with wait-list control group Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 43 |
| Population | Academics in a French research department |
| Intervention | mindfulness-based program |
| Duration | Eight week program |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Mental health Flexibility engineering Stress management Well-being Clinical psychology Psychological intervention Intervention counseling Applied psychology Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 51 |
| Key findings | The mindfulness-based program significantly increased psychological flexibility, mental health, well-being, and efficient time use compared to the wait-list control. |
Abstract
(1)
Background: Occupational stress is high in academia, and is partly related to time pressure. Mindfulness-based programs are known to be effective in reducing stress and increasing well-being. Recent work suggested that these programs may also improve time management. This study tested the effects of a mindfulness-based program on academics' psychological flexibility, mental health, well-being, and time management. (2)
Methods: The study was conducted in a French research department. Participants were offered to join a mindfulness-based program (n = 21) or to be on a wait-list control group (n = 22). Self-reported measures of psychological flexibility, mental health (stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms), well-being, and time use were collected before and after the eight week program. (3)
Results: Results showed that psychological flexibility, mental health, well-being, and efficient time use significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the control condition. (4)
Conclusions: The results suggested that the mindfulness-based programs were effective in improving adaptive functioning, well-being, and optimal time use in academia, thus underlining potential useful perspectives to help academics improve mental health and time management.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- 10-Week Trajectories of Candidate Psychological Processes Differentially Predict Mental Health Gains from Online Dyadic versus Mindfulness Interventions: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Clinical Medicine June 3, 2024
- The Association Between Psychological Flexibility and Mindfulness: A Meta-Analytic Review. Behavior Therapy September 2026
Cites 14
- Contemplating Mindfulness at Work Journal of Management November 19, 2015
- Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 25, 2018
- Students and Teachers Benefit from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in a School-Embedded Pilot Study Frontiers in Psychology April 26, 2016
- Mindfulness Promotes a More Balanced Time Perspective: Correlational and Intervention-Based Evidence Mindfulness February 22, 2019
- Effects of Brief Mindfulness Meditation on Attention Switching Mindfulness February 10, 2020
and 9 more in the library