May Mindfulness and Workplace Wellness Research Round-Up

By The Mindful Leader Team

In this month's research roundup, we learn how to use social norms to destigmatize mental health, the importance of addressing the unique mental health challenges that women face, how HR’s role in promoting mental health is evolving, the influence of frequency and duration of meditation, and how mindfulness effects working memory. We have summarized the main ideas and key takeaways below with links to the full articles and sources.

More People Use Mental Health Benefits When They Hear That Colleagues Use Them Too

A study published in Harvard Business Review reveals a fascinating insight into how social norms impact the utilization of mental health benefits in the workplace. The research suggests that employees are more likely to engage with mental health resources when they perceive that their colleagues are also using them. This finding underscores the importance of fostering a culture of openness and support surrounding mental health issues within organizations.

Key Points:

• Employees are more inclined to use mental health resources when they believe that their peers are also accessing them, indicating the importance of fostering a culture of openness and support surrounding mental health in the workplace.
• Individuals' perceptions of their colleagues' utilization of mental health benefits significantly influence their own decisions to seek support.
• Organizations can enhance mental health benefit utilization by promoting a supportive environment where discussions about mental well-being are encouraged and normalized.

Read the full article on Harvard Business Review.

Deloitte's Women At Work Study

Deloitte's Women At Work Study provides valuable insights into the intersection of gender and mental health in the workplace. The study highlights unique challenges faced by women concerning mental health, including stigma, work-life balance, and access to resources. By understanding these dynamics, organizations can better tailor their mental health initiatives to address the specific needs of female employees, ultimately promoting a more inclusive and supportive work environment.

Key Points:

• About half of women don’t think their employer’s commitment to supporting women has increased over the past year.
• Less than half of women feel supported by their employer to balance their work responsibilities with commitments outside work.
• Women face challenges including gender-based stigma surrounding mental health issues, disparities in work-life balance expectations, and unequal access to mental health resources compared to their male counterparts.

Explore the Women At Work Study findings on Deloitte.

HR's Role in Promoting Mental Health

Mental Health, HR and the Workplace explores the pivotal role of Human Resources (HR) in fostering a mentally healthy workplace. The article discusses various strategies HR professionals can employ to support employees' mental well-being, including implementing comprehensive mental health policies, providing training and resources, and destigmatizing mental health conversations. By prioritizing mental health initiatives, HR can contribute significantly to employee morale, productivity, and retention.

Key Points:

• Nearly 45 percent of workers said they are burned out from their jobs.
• Almost one-third of employees said their jobs often cause stress.
• Nearly 70 percent of U.S. workers said they are unaware or only somewhat aware of the available resources. Meanwhile, 50 percent said they do not feel comfortable using or asking about mental health benefits.

Read the full article on SHRM.

Practice matters: The role of mindfulness skills in emotion dysregulation in borderline personality disorder

Scientific research continues to uncover the efficacy of mindfulness interventions in promoting mental well-being. A study published in ScienceDirect emphasizes the role of mindfulness skills in emotion dysregulation among individuals with borderline personality disorder. By cultivating mindfulness, individuals can develop better emotional regulation strategies, leading to improved mental health outcomes.

Key Points:

• Mindfulness practice appears to be a key behavioral mechanism to enhance the emotion dysregulation in BPD.
• Participants who practiced at least 3 days and less than 30 min per week decreased significant emotion dysregulation.
• Integrating mindfulness-based approaches into existing treatment modalities may offer an effective means of addressing emotional symptoms and improving overall functioning in individuals with BPD.

Read the full study on ScienceDirect.

Mindfulness-based intervention reduce interference of negative stimuli to working memory in individuals with subclinical depression: A randomized controlled fMRI study

Another study published in ScienceDirect explores the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on working memory in individuals with subclinical depression. The findings suggest that mindfulness practices can reduce interference from negative stimuli, enhancing cognitive functioning and potentially alleviating symptoms of depression.

Key Points:

• The results demonstrate that mindfulness-based interventions can reduce the interference of negative stimuli in working memory among individuals with subclinical depression.
• The study underscores the potential of mindfulness-based interventions as a therapeutic tool for mitigating cognitive deficits associated with subclinical depression.

Access the full study on ScienceDirect.