Brief Daily Mindfulness and Perceived Stress Among Remote IT Professionals in the Philippine Banking Sector
Jefferson Bulan
Southeast Asian Business Review September 27, 2026 DOI: 10.20473/sabr.v4i2.90750 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-test post-test quantitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 186 |
| Population | Remote information technology professionals at a Philippine banking institution |
| Dose | 15-minute guided sessions |
| Duration | Ten-day mindfulness program; pre-test and post-test assessment |
| Measures | 10-item Perceived Stress Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Perceived stress fell from a mean of 22.72 to 14.61 on the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale after a ten-day guided mindfulness program, an 8.11-point reduction, with 75.3% of participants showing measurable improvement and none remaining in the high-stress category. Participants with the highest baseline stress showed the greatest improvements, which the authors describe as suggesting dose-dependent responsiveness. |
Abstract
Remote work has fundamentally transformed the psychological experience of information technology (IT) professionals, compounding occupational stressors that threaten personal well-being and organizational performance. This study examines the effectiveness of a structured, brief daily mindfulness intervention delivered via Microsoft Teams on perceived stress levels among remote IT professionals in a Philippine banking institution. Using a pre-test post-test quantitative design, 186 participants completed the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale before and after a ten-day mindfulness program of 15-minute guided sessions. Wilcoxon signed-rank analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in perceived stress following the intervention (W = 130, p = 0.012, r = 0.699), with mean scores declining from 22.72 to 14.61, a reduction of 8.11 points. Notably, 75.3% of participants demonstrated measurable stress reduction, and no participant remained in the high-stress category post-intervention. Participants with the highest baseline stress showed the greatest improvements, suggesting dose-dependent responsiveness. Grounded in the Job Demands-Resources model, findings indicate that structured mindfulness functions as an effective personal resource buffering against digital overload in distributed IT work environments.