Mindfulness-based stress reduction for managers: a randomized controlled study.
D Żołnierczyk-Zreda, M Sanderson, S Bedyńska
Occupational Medicine November 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqw091 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 144 |
| Population | Middle-level managers exposed to work-related stress from organizational restructuring |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Managers Occupational stress Perceived work stressors Sick leave. |
| Key findings | Relative to a wait-list control group, an 8-week MBSR program significantly reduced perceived work-related stress, negative affect, intensity of somatic complaints, and sickness absence, and increased self-esteem and positive affect among 144 middle-level managers. No effect was found on frequency of somatic complaints. The authors suggest MBSR is an effective method for managing work-related stress and bolstering psychological resilience in the workplace. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), which was initially used in clinical settings, has also proved to be an effective tool for managing work-related stress in occupational groups inherently exposed to certain psychosocial risks. To examine the potential for work-related stress management using MBSR for middle-level managers who are considered to be particularly affected by the negative effects of stress related to organizational restructuring. Middle-level managers participated in a randomized controlled study which implemented a 2 (experimental versus control group) × 2 (baseline, post-treatment) study design, yielding a between-group comparison. The participants were randomly assigned to an 8-week intervention group or to a wait-list control group. The results showed that, relative to the control group, the MBSR intervention had significant effects on several outcomes in the 144 subjects, including: decreases in perceived work-related stress (F(1,140) = 20.4, P < 0.001, ddiff = 0.72), negative affect (F(1,140) = 45.3, P < 0.001, ddiff = 0.93), intensity of somatic complaints (F(1,140) = 20.7, P < 0.001, ddiff = 0.69), and sickness absence (F(1,140) = 67.3, P < 0.001, ddiff = 0.69), and increase in self-esteem (F(1,140) = 44.1, P < 0.001, ddiff = 1.25), and positive affect (F(1,140) = 6.73, P < 0.01, ddiff = 0.43). No effects were found on frequency of somatic complaints. These results suggest that MBSR is an effective method for managing work-related stress and bolstering psychological resilience in the workplace, particularly in the face of psychosocial risks of a global, economic nature.
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 and Mindfulness-Informed Interventions at the Workplace: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis of RCTs. Mindfulness May 11, 2023
- Contemplative interventions and employee distress: A meta-analysis. Stress and Health March 15, 2019
- Improving Health and Reducing Absence Days at Work: Effects of a Mindfulness- and Skill-Based Leadership Intervention on Supervisor and Employee Sick Days Mindfulness June 29, 2023
- Examining the Feasibility and Mental Wellbeing Effects of a Novel Online Mindfulness and Rational Emotive Behaviour Coaching Intervention (M‐REBC) for Corporate Employees Mental health science April 13, 2026
- Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on well-being and work-related stress in the financial sector: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. Systematic Reviews April 27, 2022
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Cites 6
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Investigating the phenomenological matrix of mindfulness-related practices from a neurocognitive perspective. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Prospects for a clinical science of mindfulness-based intervention. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Does mindfulness attenuate thoughts emphasizing negativity, but not positivity? Journal of Research in Personality December 1, 2014
- Mindfulness is associated with fewer PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, and alcohol problems in urban firefighters. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology October 1, 2011
and 1 more in the library