Inquiry‐Based Stress Reduction Meditation Technique for Teacher Burnout:A Qualitative Study
Lia Schnaider‐Levi, Inbal Mitnik, Keren Zafrani, Zehavit Goldman, Shahar Lev-Ari
Mind, Brain, and Education June 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1111/mbe.12137 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Teachers |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Teachers described emotional overload before the intervention due to stressful interactions and ideological pressures of their profession. After IBSR meditation, they reported greater centeredness, acceptance of reality, and improvements in boundaries, thought flexibility, and self-awareness, which the authors suggest helped them cope with their work. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT: An inquiry‐based intervention has been found to have a positive effect on burnout and mental well‐being parameters among teachers. The aim of the current study was to qualitatively evaluate the effect of the inquiry‐based stress reduction (IBSR) meditation technique on the participants. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted before and after the IBSR intervention and were analyzed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis method. Before the intervention, the teachers described emotional overload caused by two main reasons: (1) multiple stressful interactions with students, parents, colleagues, and the educational system, and (2) the ideological load of their profession—trying to fulfill high expectations of performance and the manifesting educational values. Following the intervention, the teachers described a sense of centeredness and a greater ability to accept reality. They reported improvements in setting boundaries, thought flexibility, and self‐awareness. These improvements assisted them in coping with the complex and dynamic nature of their profession. These positive effects suggest that IBSR is an effective technique in reducing teachers' burnout and promoting mental well‐being.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mindfulness for Teachers: A Pilot Study to Assess Effects on Stress, Burnout, and Teaching Efficacy Mind, Brain, and Education August 16, 2013
- Clinical Trials of Meditation Practices in Health Care: Characteristics and Quality The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine December 1, 2008
- Effect of Transcendental Meditation on Employee Stress, Depression, and Burnout: A Randomized Controlled Study The Permanente Journal January 30, 2014
- Contemplative/emotion training reduces negative emotional behavior and promotes prosocial responses. Emotion December 12, 2011
and 3 more in the library