Matching Items (2)
Filtering by

Clear all filters

135089-Thumbnail Image.png

Mindfulness in the Workplace: Why It Matters

Description
The purpose of this project is to analyze the physical, mental, and interpersonal health benefits that "mindfulness" can bring to employees and upper division executives in numerous workplace settings. In addition, this project also emphasizes the importance of having program implementation and how this could benefit employee and company success.…

The purpose of this project is to analyze the physical, mental, and interpersonal health benefits that "mindfulness" can bring to employees and upper division executives in numerous workplace settings. In addition, this project also emphasizes the importance of having program implementation and how this could benefit employee and company success. The first portion consists of an academic literature review of the three categories of benefits on employee well-being in the workplace and how it can influence overall productivity and performance. Physical benefits include lower blood pressure; Mental benefits include lower levels of perceived stress; Interpersonal benefits include stronger relationship building and more efficient conflict resolution skills. Most research found proved to be statistically significant (mental and interpersonal benefits) whereas other research is still being practiced to produce significant results (physical and some mental health benefits). The second portion focuses on recent mindfulness programs that are established in well-known companies such as Aetna Insurance, the U.S. Marine Corps as well as a Counterproductive Work Study. All programs showed significant results in all three employee health categories when mindfulness was present. Finally, the third area of the project includes a suggested program outline that focuses on physical forms of meditation to enhance mindfulness along with happiness in conjunction with strengthening mental and interpersonal mindfulness skills.
ContributorsRead, Tessa Elaine (Author) / Kelley, Douglas (Thesis director) / Waldron, Vincent (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12
171942-Thumbnail Image.png

App-Based Mindfulness Study in Autistic Adults

Description
Autistic adults face heightened risk of psychiatric disorders, with depression occurrence estimated at quadruple the rate of the general population. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), an intensive 8-week in-person intervention, reduces depressive symptoms in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, access to these programs is restricted due to financial,…

Autistic adults face heightened risk of psychiatric disorders, with depression occurrence estimated at quadruple the rate of the general population. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), an intensive 8-week in-person intervention, reduces depressive symptoms in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, access to these programs is restricted due to financial, geographic, and scheduling limitations. Additionally, lapses in practice post-intervention cause these effects to be short-lived. This study examines antidepressant effects of an 8-week app-delivered mindfulness meditation intervention using Ten Percent Happier in adults with ASD and explores whether anchoring meditation practice to a preexisting behavior will improve therapy compliance and depression-related efficacy. Ninety-seven participants were randomly assigned to either App Only (n=30), App + Habit training (n=27) or Waitlist Control (n=40). App Only and App + Habit groups were requested to meditate a minimum of 10 minutes per day, 5 days per week for 8 consecutive weeks using the mobile application. The App + Habit group received additional instruction to anchor leaving the bathroom each morning with meditation; The App Only group was only provided with education on habit formation. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at pre- and post-intervention. All groups received weekly ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) to assess frequency and length of practice. The App + Habit group was additionally assessed for cue-initiated meditation frequency. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Pre-to-post changes on BDI-II scores indicated a group by time interaction (p=0.04) and a main effect of time (p <0.001). Post-hoc analysis revealed the App + Habit group exclusively showed significant decline in depressive symptoms (p<0.001). The App + Habit group showed greater number of days meditated, average minutes per day of meditating, and continuation of meditation practice 8-weeks after the intervention period, compared to the App Only group. Findings support app-delivered mindfulness interventions as an accessible and cost-effective alternative to traditional in-person mindfulness training for Autistic adults. However, results suggest app-based mindfulness tools may only be effective when delivered with specific habit formation instruction. Additionally, habit formation instruction led to greater adherence to meditation practice after the study period ended.
ContributorsVink, Schuyler Rae (Author) / Braden, B. Blair (Thesis advisor) / Stecher, Chad (Committee member) / Dixon, Maria (Committee member) / Rogalsky, Corriane (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022