Well-Being Training for Educator Stress

Overseen By Jane Sachs

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Significant meditation experience, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to test whether the Healthy Minds Program app can reduce anxiety and depression and improve well-being among employees of Jefferson County Public Schools. Participants will either use the app, which offers well-being training, or access wellness resources like TED talks and books. The trial seeks school employees who have a smartphone or device capable of downloading apps and have not previously used the app or have significant meditation experience. The goal is to determine if the app's training can lead to long-term mental health benefits. As an unphased trial, this study provides participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could enhance mental health resources for educators.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems unlikely that you would need to stop, as the study focuses on a well-being app and not on medication.

What prior data suggests that the Healthy Minds Program app is safe for educators?

Research has shown that the Healthy Minds Program (HMP) is grounded in neuroscience and contemplative traditions. This program helps people develop skills for well-being, such as awareness and connection. Although specific data on negative effects is lacking, it is generally considered low-risk.

Unlike drug trials, this program does not test a medication. Instead, it uses a training app to improve mental health, which usually means a small chance of side effects. The app provides educational content and reminders to help users practice skills for better mental health.

The trial is in a "Not Applicable" phase, indicating low safety risks. This is because the program does not involve new drugs or invasive procedures. Overall, the program appears well-tolerated based on its design and goals. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Healthy Minds Program Foundations training for educator stress because it offers a novel approach to improving well-being through structured, scientifically-derived content. Unlike traditional stress management techniques, which may focus on general relaxation or time management, this program incorporates 30 days of targeted didactic and experiential learning. A standout feature is the incorporation of daily push notifications, or micro-interventions, which provide brief opportunities for participants to engage with the content and practice new skills in real-time. This method not only makes the program highly interactive but also supports sustained engagement and learning, potentially leading to more effective stress management outcomes for educators.

What evidence suggests that the Healthy Minds Program is effective for reducing educator stress?

Studies have shown that the Healthy Minds Program (HMP) app effectively reduces stress and improves well-being. In one trial with over 660 school employees in Wisconsin, participants experienced less stress and felt better after using the app for four weeks. Another study found that healthcare workers using a similar mindfulness-based program also experienced reduced stress. These findings suggest that the HMP app can help reduce anxiety and improve overall mental health. In this trial, participants in the experimental arm will receive HMP training, which offers a structured, science-based approach to boosting well-being and may help educators manage stress more effectively. Meanwhile, participants in the Choice group will receive a list of resources focused on the science of well-being, which they can choose to engage with at their discretion. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Matthew J Hirshberg

Principal Investigator

UW-Madison

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for employees of Jefferson County Public Schools who are at least 18 years old, have a smartphone or device to download apps, and some experience with meditation or yoga. It's not for anyone under 18.

Inclusion Criteria

Employee of participating district/state

Smartphone or device that can download apps from Google Play or the iTunes app store

Exclusion Criteria

Previous use of the HMP app

I am under 18 years old.

Significant meditation experience: Meditation retreat experience (meditation retreat or yoga/body practice retreat with significant meditation component)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete baseline assessments before randomization

1 week

Intervention

Participants engage with the Healthy Minds Program app or Choice resources for 4 weeks

4 weeks

Weekly virtual check-ins

Post-Test Assessment

Participants complete post-test assessments within two weeks following the intervention

2 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for long-term effects and complete follow-up assessments

5-6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Healthy Minds Program Foundations Training

Trial Overview

The study tests the Healthy Minds Program app against a control group given resources on well-being. Participants will use these tools over four weeks and their mental health outcomes like anxiety and depression will be measured.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Healthy Minds Program (HMP) Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the experimental arm will be assigned to the Healthy Minds Program Foundations training (HMP) which consists of 30-days of didactic and experiential content in a scientifically-derived model of well-being. A second random assignment will occur among intervention participants in which participants will receive the standard Foundations training or the Foundations training plus once per day push notifications (i.e., a micro-interventions) that provide a very brief opportunity to practice with the HMP content of that day. HMP participants will not be made aware of this second assignment.

Group II: Choice Group Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Participants assigned to the Choice group will receive a list of digital (i.e., links to TED talks) and hard-copy (i.e., books) resources that focus on the science of well-being and may support well-being. It is up to participants whether and to what extent they choose to engage with these resources. A study library with 10 copies of each recommended book will be accessible to participants should they wish to read any of the suggested books. After follow-up testing, Choice group participants will be provided free access to the HMP training.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,249

Recruited

3,255,000+

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

Collaborator

Trials

5

Recruited

1,900+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Many mindfulness-based programs in K-12 schools, such as Inner Explorer and Mindful Schools, lack substantial research backing their effectiveness, despite being widely implemented.

The review highlights the need for more rigorous evaluations of these programs to assess their feasibility, acceptability, and overall impact on students' well-being, encouraging collaboration among researchers and educators.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

MINDFULNESS GOES TO SCHOOL: THINGS LEARNED (SO FAR) FROM RESEARCH AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES. Semple, RJ., Droutman, V., Reid, BA.[2019]

The Mindfulness-Based Emotional Balance (MBEB) program showed promise for improving the well-being and teaching practices of early elementary teachers, with 58% reporting personal and professional benefits after participating in a 27.5-hour program.

Teachers demonstrated significant improvements in skills and mindsets, with effect sizes ranging from small to large (|d| = 0.30 to 0.83), indicating that mindfulness training can positively impact their occupational health and effectiveness in the classroom.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Results from a pre-post, uncontrolled pilot study of a mindfulness-based program for early elementary school teachers. Braun, SS., Roeser, RW., Mashburn, AJ.[2020]

A study involving 224 teachers from high-poverty areas in New York City showed that those who participated in the Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE) program experienced significant and sustained reductions in psychological distress and physical distress related to stress, nearly one year after the intervention.

Teachers in the CARE program also reported improved emotion regulation and mindfulness, indicating that mindfulness-based interventions can have lasting positive effects on teacher well-being and potentially enhance the quality of education.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term impacts of the CARE program on teachers' self-reported social and emotional competence and well-being. Jennings, PA., Doyle, S., Oh, Y., et al.[2020]

A 4-day residential 'Mindful Practice' workshop for physicians significantly improved burnout symptoms, job satisfaction, and patient-centered compassionate care among 85 participants, with effect sizes ranging from 0.25 to 0.61.

The workshop also enhanced work engagement and well-being, indicating that intensive mindfulness training can positively impact clinician health and the quality of care provided, although future programs should place more emphasis on teamwork.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of an Intensive Mindful Practice Workshop on Patient-Centered Compassionate Care, Clinician Well-Being, Work Engagement, and Teamwork. Epstein, RM., Marshall, F., Sanders, M., et al.[2022]

An 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program significantly improved mindfulness, self-compassion, and personal accomplishment among 236 K-12 educators, while also reducing feelings of isolation, anxiety, fatigue, and emotional exhaustion.

Long-term benefits included continued improvements in self-compassion and mindfulness, along with significant decreases in fatigue and sleep disturbances, highlighting the program's effectiveness in enhancing educator well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of Mindfulness Training on the Well-Being of Educators. Dave, DJ., McClure, LA., Rojas, SR., et al.[2020]

A mindfulness-based training program called Focusing significantly reduced perceived stress among 20 healthcare workers, with stress levels decreasing from an average of 21.4 to 17.5 after the intervention (P=0.0195).

Participants reported qualitative improvements such as increased calmness, better emotional self-regulation, and enhanced coping skills, indicating that the training effectively helped them manage work-related stress.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The educational intervention "Focusing" as a strategy to stress reduction among health care workers: a pilot study in an Italian teaching hospital. Rinaldi, A., Tecchio, R., Perugino, S., et al.[2020]

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Well-Being Training for Educator Stress · Info for Participants

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Well-Being for Life and Learning Training Program

This self-paced training includes a series of required and elective workshops offered by a team of University of Rochester content experts.