Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention in the Advertising Industry: Analyzing the Effectiveness and Exploring Adherence Factors

An eight-week online mindfulness program reduced cognitive irritation and perceived stress, and increased mindfulness, among employees of a German advertising agency. The intervention group of 21 participants showed significant improvements, while the control group of 17 did not. Interviews with participants identified factors influencing program adherence, organized into the OMBI Adherence Matrix, which includes pre-entry, first-training, and maintenance phases. The authors propose that online mindfulness-based interventions can effectively reduce stress in high-pressure industries and offer a framework for improving adherence in digital programs.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Stress-related illnesses are common in high-pressure industries such as advertising, emphasizing the need for effective interventions to enhance employee well-being. This study assessed the effectiveness of an online mindfulness-based intervention (OMBI) and identified adherence factors in employees of a German advertising agency. Method A mixed-methods approach was used. Study 1 employed a pre-post quasi-experimental design with 38 participants (21 in the intervention group, 17 in the control group) undergoing an eight-week online mindfulness program. Study 2 used semi-structured interviews to explore individual, organizational, and training-specific adherence factors. Results The intervention group showed significant reductions in cognitive irritation ( t (20) = 3.34, p < 0.01, d = 0.73) and perceived stress ( t (20) = 3.54, p < 0.01, d = 0.77), alongside increased mindfulness ( t (20) = 3.19, p = 0.01, d = 0.70), while no significant changes occurred in the control group. Interviews identified factors influencing adherence, synthesized into the OMBI Adherence Matrix (OAM), highlighting Pre-Entry, First-Training, and Maintenance phases. Contextual factors included individual, organizational, and training-specific dimensions. Conclusions OMBIs effectively reduce stress and enhance mindfulness. The proposed model offers a framework for optimizing adherence in digital mindfulness programs and provides practical insights for high-stress environments such as advertising. Future research should refine the model and evaluate its application across industries to enhance the impact of digital mindfulness interventions. Preregistration: This study is not preregistered.