Mentoring Program for Stress

No longer recruiting at 19 trial locations

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Washington

Disqualifiers: Non-women apprentices

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a mentorship program designed to reduce stress and injuries for women in the construction trades. Women in these roles often encounter challenges such as discrimination and harassment, leading to stress and a higher likelihood of leaving the field. The trial seeks to determine if having a mentor helps women feel safer, experience less stress, and remain in their jobs. Apprentices in the construction trades who are part of the SMART union may be well-suited for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance workplace conditions for women in construction.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on mentoring rather than medical interventions, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required.

What prior data suggests that this mentoring program is safe for reducing stress in tradeswomen?

Research has shown that mentoring programs are generally safe and well-received. For instance, a study with nursing students found that a 14-week mentoring program helped them manage stress without harmful effects. Another study found that mentoring reduced anxiety and depression symptoms in participants, with no concerning side effects. Similarly, mentoring was linked to less stress and better resilience in university students, with no safety issues. These findings suggest that mentorship can safely address stress and other challenges in various settings. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the mentoring program for stress because it offers a unique approach to addressing stress among apprentice-level, female-identifying construction workers. Unlike traditional stress management techniques, such as medication or therapy, this program involves direct mentorship from experienced mentors over two years. This personalized, ongoing support aims to empower participants by building confidence and resilience through real-world guidance and advice, which could lead to more sustainable stress management outcomes. By focusing on mentorship, this program taps into the power of interpersonal relationships and professional development, offering a fresh perspective on stress reduction in a demanding work environment.

What evidence suggests that this mentoring program is effective for reducing stress?

Studies have shown that mentorship programs can help reduce stress and anxiety. For example, research indicates that mentorship decreased stress and burnout among nursing students, who often face high-pressure situations. Another study found that peer mentoring lowered stress and anxiety levels among these students. These findings suggest that mentorship can be helpful in stressful environments, like those experienced by women in construction trades. In this trial, some participants will receive active mentorship from trained journey-level mentors, while others will not. Although the research mainly focuses on students, the positive effects of mentorship in reducing stress could also apply to other fields, including construction. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Marissa G Baker, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Washington

Lily M Monsey, BA

Principal Investigator

University of Washington

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for female apprentice-level sheet metal workers who are members of the SMART Union. It's designed to support women in construction trades facing job stress and harassment. Journey-level SMART Union members can participate as mentors.

Inclusion Criteria

All mentors must be journey-level sheet metal workers that are members of the SMART (International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers) Union

I am a journey-level sheet metal worker and a member of the SMART Union.

I am a female apprentice-level sheet metal worker and a member of the SMART Union.

Exclusion Criteria

I identify as a woman.

My gender does not affect my eligibility as a mentor.

I understand that participants are not excluded based on sex, race, age, disability, or religion.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Mentorship Program

Participants receive mentorship from trained journey-level workers for two years

104 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for stress, retention, job satisfaction, social support, and work-related risks

4 years

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Mentoring program

Trial Overview The trial is testing a mentorship program aimed at reducing work-related injury, stress, and improving retention among tradeswomen by pairing them with experienced mentors from their field.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Mentees Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This arm consists of apprentice-level, female-identifying construction workers who will receive active mentorship (the intervention) for two years from trained journey-level mentors.

Group II: Control Apprentices Active Control 1 Intervention

This arm consists of apprentice-level, female-identifying construction workers who will not receive mentorship.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Washington

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,858

Recruited

2,023,000+

The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR)

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

230+

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH/CDC)

Collaborator

Trials

44

Recruited

50,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10938788/

The impact of mentorship program on the level of anxiety and ... This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mentorship program on anxiety levels and pre-internship exam scores among senior nursing students.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11130845/

Effectiveness of Mentorship Using Cognitive Behavior ... Conclusion: Implementation of cognitive behavior therapy by mentors effectively reduced mentees' stress, burnout, and turnover. Keywords: nurse, burnout, ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S8755722319301905

Effects of peer-mentoring on stress and anxiety levels ... Review suggested that peer mentoring decreases stress, and situation or short-term anxiety levels of undergraduate nursing students. However, results should be ...

4. mentoring.org mentoring.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Mentoring-and-Mental-Health.pdf

Mentoring-and-Mental-Health.pdf There have been several major meta-analyses and research syntheses on the topic of mentoring and mental health outcomes for youth. •. A 2016 evidence review by ...

5. bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-10398-4

Effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a stress management ... To investigate the effectiveness of a stress management training for leaders based on their subjectively perceived mental health and objective ...

6. stacks.cdc.gov stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/196241/cdc_196241_DS1.pdf

Are Stress Management Programs Indicators of Good ... Data from a national survey of organizations were used to examine whether there are differences in the quality of worklife among organizations that.

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1976131714000681

Effect of Mentoring Program on Ways of Coping with Stress ... This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 14-week mentoring program for first year nursing students and their ways of coping with stress and locus of control.

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10404642/

A peer-based mentoring program for reducing anxiety and ... The data indicated that participants in the intervention group had significantly greater post-treatment reductions in depression symptoms.

9. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1523310/full

Enhancing resilience: the impact of a near-peer mentoring ... Yusoff et al. (2010) found that a mentoring program at a Malaysian university helped reduce stress in 43% of mentees, helped them adjust to ...