October Mindfulness and Workplace Wellness Research Round-Up

By The Mindful Leader Team

This month, we look at data on rising employee stress levels as well as a German study suggesting that cutting back on screen time can boost workplace motivation. Then, we shift to a review of mindfulness-based interventions in education before considering how the workplace might help curb the loneliness epidemic. Lastly, we examine a study on the benefits of MBSR for cervical cancer patients. We have summarized the main ideas and key takeaways below with links to the full articles and sources.

US employees report high stress levels, but a lack of communication is undermining wellness programs    

The September 2024 Firstup survey of 1,000 U.S. workers reveals a significant workplace stress problem, with 60% of respondents citing their jobs as a major stress source leading to burnout and reduced performance. Despite this, wellness program utilization remains low at 28%, largely due to communication issues and lack of awareness. The survey highlights a disconnect between available resources and employee engagement, with only 48% of organizations using email for benefit communications, potentially missing deskless workers. To address these issues, the survey recommends that employers reconsider their communication strategies to deliver personalized, relevant updates and promote a healthier work environment.

Key Points:

• Job-related stress is a widespread issue, affecting 60% of surveyed workers and contributing to burnout and reduced productivity.
• There's a significant underutilization of wellness benefits, with only 28% of employees using available programs.
• 33% of employees report their employers don't offer wellness benefits at all.
• Communication gaps are a major barrier to wellness program engagement, particularly for deskless workers. Employers need to revamp their communication strategies, potentially using intelligent platforms, to improve awareness and access to wellness resources.

Read the full article on Firstup here.

Unmotivated at work? Cutting back on screen time can help, new study shows  

A recent study by the German Center for Mental Health reveals that reducing non-work-related screen time by just one hour daily can significantly enhance workplace motivation and overall well-being. The research, involving nearly 300 participants across various German industries, found that combining reduced smartphone use with increased physical activity led to the most substantial improvements in mental health, work-life balance, and job satisfaction. Participants reported decreased work overload feelings, fewer problematic smartphone use symptoms, and reduced depressive symptoms. While these findings offer an accessible strategy for employers to boost employee well-being, the study's demographic limitations suggest a need for more diverse future research. The results align with broader trends showing declining workplace well-being as pandemic-era flexibility diminishes, prompting experts to recommend integrating physical activity with digital engagement for more manageable screen time reduction.

Key Points:

• Reducing non-work screen time by one hour daily significantly improves workplace motivation and overall well-being.
• Combining reduced smartphone use with increased physical activity yields the most substantial benefits for mental health and job satisfaction.
• Even modest behavioral changes can reduce depressive symptoms and increase sense of control among employees.

Read the full article on Fortune; Find the complete published paper on Science Direct.

Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Schools: Assessing the Evidence Base

A systematic review of 24 interventions aimed at improving students' mental, emotional, and behavioral health revealed that mindfulness-based programs show significant promise. Three interventions—Learning to BREATHE, Mindfulness in School Project, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)—were rated as having high-level evidence, particularly for middle and high school students. Programs like Gaia, MindUP, and a blended MBSR and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) showed moderate evidence of effectiveness, especially with younger students. These interventions demonstrated moderate to significant benefits in areas such as stress reduction, resilience, and emotional regulation, with lasting effects noted for some programs. However, implementation challenges, including intensive training requirements and maintaining long-term engagement, were identified. Despite these challenges and less pronounced effects on emotional problems, the review concludes that mindfulness interventions hold considerable potential for fostering mental well-being in students and preventing long-term mental health issues.

Key Points:

• Mindfulness-based interventions show positive impacts on students' cognitive performance, resilience, and stress management across a wide age range, with strongest evidence for older students.
• Three programs (Learning to BREATHE, Mindfulness in School Project, and MBSR) demonstrated high-level evidence of effectiveness, particularly for middle and high school students.
• The interventions produced moderate to significant benefits in various domains, including stress reduction, resilience, and emotional regulation, though effects were less pronounced for emotional problems.
• Implementation challenges exist, such as intensive training requirements and maintaining long-term engagement with students and schools.
• The review suggests that with further research and application, mindfulness interventions could play a key role in promoting student well-being and preventing mental health issues over time.

Read the full article on Psychiatry Online.

The workplace can help curb the loneliness epidemic.

Recent studies highlight a concerning rise in loneliness and isolation, with the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy identifying these as major health threats in 2023. A Gallup mental health study reveals that 58% of U.S. adults now identify as lonely, up from 46% in 2018, while one in five workers report experiencing loneliness at work. This trend, potentially exacerbated by remote work and recent workplace shifts, presents an opportunity for organizations to counteract loneliness by fostering supportive, inclusive environments that promote mental health, well-being, and meaningful connections. Business leaders can play a crucial role by adopting a "people-first" leadership approach, normalizing mental health discussions, and implementing programs that encourage compassion and support among employees. To address workplace loneliness and mental health, companies are advised to cultivate compassionate leadership, build opportunities for meaningful connections, and offer accessible mental health benefits while eliminating associated stigma.

Key Points:

• Loneliness and isolation are emerging as significant health threats, with 58% of U.S. adults identifying as lonely and one in five workers experiencing loneliness at work.
• Organizations have the opportunity to counteract loneliness by fostering supportive, inclusive environments that promote mental health, well-being, and meaningful connections.
• Business leaders can make a significant impact by adopting a "people-first" leadership approach, which includes normalizing mental health discussions and creating supportive programs.
• Three main actions for addressing workplace loneliness and mental health are: cultivating compassionate leadership, building opportunities for meaningful connections, and offering accessible mental health benefits without stigma.
• Implementing creative mental health programs tailored to unique employee challenges, such as caregiving or parenting roles, can help alleviate emotional burdens contributing to isolation and improve overall workforce well-being and productivity.

Read the full article on Fast Company.

A study on improving cancer-related fatigue and disease-related psychological variables in patients with cervical cancer based on online mindfulness-based stress reduction: a randomized controlled trial

A recent study published in BMC Women's Health investigated the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on cervical cancer patients, focusing on various psychological and physical aspects. The research found that MBSR significantly reduced cancer-related fatigue (CRF) symptoms and improved sense of coherence (SOC) and positive coping styles, with benefits lasting up to 6 months post-intervention. While uncertainty in illness initially decreased after MBSR, it gradually increased at 3 and 6 months. Interestingly, the intervention had no significant impact on perceived social support (PSS), which researchers attribute to MBSR's focus on internal psychological resources rather than external support. The study concludes that MBSR is an effective tool for enhancing the mental and physical well-being of cervical cancer patients, recommending its incorporation into rehabilitation programs and suggesting the potential use of online MBSR to improve recovery outcomes in daily care.

Key Points:

• MBSR significantly reduced cancer-related fatigue symptoms in cervical cancer patients, with effects lasting up to 6 months post-intervention.
• The intervention improved patients' sense of coherence and promoted positive coping styles while reducing negative coping strategies, enhancing psychological resilience and adaptability.
• Uncertainty in illness showed an initial decrease after MBSR but gradually increased at 3 and 6 months post-intervention, suggesting a need for ongoing support.
• MBSR had no significant effect on perceived social support, likely due to its focus on internal psychological resources rather than external social support.
• The study recommends incorporating MBSR into rehabilitation programs for cervical cancer patients, including the potential use of online MBSR to enhance recovery outcomes in daily care.

Read the full article on BMC.