Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction and an organizational health intervention on Dutch teachers' mental health.
Math Janssen, Yvonne Heerkens, Beatrice van der Heijden, Hubert Korzilius, Pascale Peters, Josephine Engels
Health Promotion International June 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daac008 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cluster randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Secondary vocational school teachers in the Netherlands |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) organizational health intervention |
| Duration | Data collected before (T0), immediately after (T1), and three (T2) and nine months (T3) after the MBSR training |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Stress, psychological Emotions Mental health Ethnicity Teachers Mindfulness-based stress reduction Organizational health intervention Work-related perceptions |
| Key findings | MBSR improved teachers' mindfulness, sleep quality complaints, negative emotions, negative work-home interaction, and work dedication over short and long follow-up, while organizational commitment decreased more in the MBSR group; no significant differences were found for work performance, personal competencies, or work-related perceptions. The authors suggest enhanced mindfulness may have enabled teachers to mentally disengage from work during leisure time, reducing psychological strain. |
Abstract
This study aimed to test the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) combined with an organizational health intervention. A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in five Dutch secondary vocational schools. Teachers were assigned to Intervention Group 1 (IG1; MBSR) or 2 (IG2; MBSR and an organizational health intervention), or to the Waiting List Group. The primary outcome variable was mindfulness. Secondary outcomes included other mental health outcomes, work performance, personal competencies, and work-related perceptions. Data was collected before (T0), immediately after (T1), and three (T2) and nine months (T3) after the MBSR training and analyzed applying repeated measures between-subjects designs. As the additional intervention showed no effects, IG1 and IG2 were merged (IG). MBSR had positive short-term effects on the total mindfulness score, its dimensions 'observing' and 'non-reactivity', and the work engagement dimension 'dedication'. Long-term effects were found for the total mindfulness score, its dimensions 'observing', 'non-reactivity', and 'non-judging', sleep quality complaints, negative emotions, and negative work-home interaction. IG displayed a larger short- and long-term decrease in organizational commitment. No significant differences were found for work performance, personal competencies, and work-related perceptions. Although teachers did not perceive a decrease in job demands after the training, they felt more mindful and lowered their organizational commitment. Their mental health improved and their dedication during work increased. These findings may suggest that enhanced mindfulness enabled them to mentally disengage from work during their leisure time, which allowed them to experience fewer symptoms of psychological strain. The trail is registered with the Dutch Trial Register (www.trialregister.nl): NL5581 (July 2016).
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
Cited by 6
- Mindfulness-Based Programmes for Work Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. Stress and Health December 1, 2025
- Meditation and workplace health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of mental and cardiometabolic outcomes among employees Health Psychology Review April 16, 2026
- The Subjective Experience of Greek Women Attending a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program The European Journal of Counselling Psychology October 21, 2025
- Effects of mindfulness-based intervention on teachers' work stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Work June 3, 2026
- The effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on presenteeism among ICU nurses: A cluster randomized controlled trial. PLoS One October 28, 2025
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