September Mindfulness and Workplace Wellness Research Round-Up

By The Mindful Leader Team

This month, we first look at how hope might be more important than mindfulness in times of stress before reviewing the key findings of this year’s Well-Being at Work report. Then, we explore the effectiveness of telehealth mindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain treatment as well as Gen Z’s skills and expectations in the workplace. We conclude with the surgeon general’s advisory addressing the mental health and well-being of parents. We have summarized the main ideas and key takeaways below with links to the full articles and sources.

How hope beats mindfulness when times are tough

A new study out of North Carolina State University suggests that hope may be more beneficial than mindfulness in helping people manage stress and stay engaged at work during prolonged periods of stress. While mindfulness focuses on the present and appreciating your current circumstances, hope is about looking forward – and this seems to make a meaningful difference. The researchers surveyed 247 professional musicians during the Covid-19 pandemic, asking about their thoughts and experiences, including how hopeful and mindful they were during the first year of the pandemic (March 2020-March 2021). Then, in October 2021, the researchers asked about work engagement, work tension, how positive their emotions were, and levels of distress. After controlling for the severity of the pandemic and associated negative affect, the researchers found that hope, not mindfulness, led to greater happiness, reduced stress, and better work engagement. In fact, mindfulness was directly linked to higher job tension and greater distress. The researchers emphasize that while mindfulness is important and can be beneficial, it is also important to remain hopeful, especially during trying times

Key Points:

• The study found that hope, which involves focusing on the future, is more effective than mindfulness, which emphasizes present awareness, in helping people manage stress and remain professionally engaged during prolonged stress.
• Hope, not mindfulness, was associated with greater happiness, less distress, and better work engagement, highlighting the importance of a forward-looking mindset during challenging times.
• While the study focused on musicians, the researchers suggest that cultivating hope can benefit employees across various industries during high-stress periods.

Read the full article on Science Daily; Find the published journal article on Wiley.

Well-Being at Work US Research Report (2024) - Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business.

The Human Capital Development Lab out of John Hopkin’s Carey Business School has just released this year’s Well-Being at Work research report, which provides a detailed analysis of workplace well-being trends in the U.S. post-pandemic. Over the past five years, they have seen both a rise and decline in employee well-being based on demographic differences like age, gender, and race. Notably, they observed particularly lower well-being scores among female, African-American, and younger employees. Similarly, industry and type of work have led to meaningful differences in well-being. Overall, there has been a steady decline in workplace well-being since the peak of supportive practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. As companies have moved away from the flexible and supportive work environments established during the pandemic, employee well-being has regressed. Collectively, the findings of the report suggest that organizations should focus on fostering trust, pride, and meaningful connections among employees while ensuring that well-being initiatives are sustainable and inclusive across all demographic groups.

Key Points:

• There has been a significant decline in workplace well-being as companies have reduced the supportive measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The report encourages companies to integrate well-being initiatives into everyday work practices rather than treating them as temporary measures, as doing so can help maintain high levels of employee satisfaction and engagement.
• These insights suggest that a strategic, inclusive, and sustained approach to workplace well-being is essential for long-term success.

Read the full report on JHU.

Telehealth Mindfulness-Based Interventions Prove Effective for Veterans with Chronic Pain

According to a new study, telehealth-based mindfulness interventions are an effective treatment option for veterans experiencing chronic pain. This study, the LAMP Randomized Clinical Trial, aimed to assess whether these digital programs could offer a viable alternative to traditional in-person therapy and help improve both pain-related function and biopsychosocial outcomes. The trial found that veterans who participated in telehealth mindfulness-based interventions reported significant reductions in chronic pain and improvements in overall well-being. These interventions included practices such as meditation and mindful movement, delivered through digital platforms. Crucially, these low-resource mindfulness-based interventions offer the potential to increase nonpharmacological pain treatments within healthcare systems, which may be more broadly accessible to patients.

Key Points:

• By incorporating practices like meditation and mindful movement through online platforms, the trial showed that telehealth could effectively manage chronic pain while providing a convenient and accessible alternative to traditional in-person therapies.
• The findings highlight the potential for telehealth mindfulness interventions to be integrated into healthcare services, offering a scalable solution to improve pain management and quality of life for veterans and others.

Read the full article on Medical Dialogues.

Gen Z in the Workplace: Welcoming the Next Generation

Conducted by Udemy Business, this report examines how Generation Z—those born between the late 1990s and early 2010s—are entering the workforce, including the unique characteristics and expectations they bring to the workplace. The report highlights that Gen Z values flexibility, work-life balance, and meaningful work, often seeking roles that align with their personal values and offer opportunities for growth and development. As a result, employers should adapt to these preferences by offering flexible work arrangements, prioritizing mental health and well-being, and fostering a culture of continuous learning. Additionally, the report notes that Gen Z is highly tech-savvy and expects to use advanced technology and digital tools in their roles. Companies are therefore encouraged to embrace these technological preferences and provide platforms that support digital collaboration and innovation. By understanding and addressing the expectations of Gen Z, organizations can better attract, engage, and retain this emerging talent pool, ultimately benefiting from their fresh perspectives and skills.

Key Points:

• Gen Z employees highly value flexibility, work-life balance, and roles that offer a sense of purpose and alignment with their personal values.
• This generation is comfortable with advanced technology and expects to use digital tools for collaboration and innovation in the workplace – organizations should take advantage of this skill to improve productivity and outcomes.
• Gen Z seeks continuous learning and professional development opportunities, emphasizing the need for employers to provide career advancement resources and training programs.

Read the full report at Udemy.

Surgeon General: Parents Are at Their Wits’ End. We Can Do Better.

Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, is issuing a surgeon general’s advisory to recognize and address the stress and mental health concerns facing parents. Dr. Murthy discusses how the pressures of an unrealistic culture of comparison, fueled by online platforms, leave many parents feeling overwhelmed and inadequate. New stressors, like omnipresent screens and the ongoing youth mental health crisis, are leading to increased levels of distress among parents. According to a recent study by the American Psychological Association, 48% of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming, nearly double that of other adults (only 26%). The advisory calls for a societal shift in how parenting is valued, emphasizing the need for policies and programs that support parents, such as financial assistance, paid leave, affordable child care, and accessible mental health care. Furthermore, addressing issues like social media's impact and gun violence, along with providing community resources, is crucial to making parenting more sustainable and supportive for families.

Key Points from the advisory:

• Impact of Stress on Parenting: The advisory highlights how high levels of stress among parents can negatively affect their mental health, relationships, and overall parenting abilities, which in turn impacts children's well-being and development.
• Need for Support Systems: It emphasizes the importance of creating supportive environments for parents, including access to mental health resources, community support, and policies that alleviate financial and social pressures.
• Call for Systemic Changes: The advisory calls for systemic changes at the federal, state, and local levels to address the root causes of parental stress, such as inadequate paid leave, lack of affordable childcare, and insufficient mental health services.

Read Dr. Murthy’s New York Times opinion piece here; Find the full advisory here.