Bibliotherapy to decrease stress and anxiety and increase resilience and mindfulness: a pilot trial.
Varun Sharma, Amit Sood, Kavita Prasad, Laura L Loehrer, Darrell R Schroeder, Bauer Brent
Explore 2014 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2014.04.002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 37 |
| Population | Employees at a large medical center |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Bibliotherapy Psychological resilience Psychological stress |
| Key points | A self-directed SMART program delivered only through written materials was associated with statistically significant improvements at 12 weeks in perceived stress, resilience, mindfulness, anxiety, and quality of life among employees who completed it. The authors conclude the program provided short-term effectiveness for these outcomes. |
Abstract
Interventions to decrease stress and enhance resiliency and mindfulness are more likely to be widely implemented if they can be offered without the need for in-person training. The purpose of this study was to assess effectiveness of a self-directed Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) program delivered using only written material for improving stress, resiliency, and mindfulness. A total of 37 employees at a large medical center were recruited and given written material on the SMART program. Subjects were instructed to practice the skills presented in the written materials without any additional training. The skills included education about the neuropsychology of stress and resilience, training attention to focus in the present moment, and refining interpretations. Primary outcome measures assessed resilience, perceived stress, anxiety, and quality of life. Out of 37 employees, 34 (89%) enrolled subjects completed the study and provided the baseline and follow-up data. A statistically significant improvement in perceived stress, resilience, mindfulness, anxiety, and quality of life was observed at 12 weeks. This study demonstrated that a brief, self-directed program to decrease stress and enhance resilience and mindfulness provided excellent short-term effectiveness for enhancing resilience, mindfulness and quality of life, and decreasing stress and anxiety.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Association of mindfulness on state-trait anxiety in choking-susceptible athletes: mediating roles of resilience and perceived stress. Frontiers in Psychology August 29, 2023
- Mindfulness for female outpatients with chronic primary headaches: an internet-based bibliotherapy. European journal of translational myology April 24, 2018
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and 1 more in the library