Mindfulness Practice Reduces Hair Cortisol, Anxiety and Perceived Stress in University Workers: Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and stress are common mental health conditions reported by university workers. Practices of mindfulness represent one promising approach as an effective and feasible means to reduce stress, improve mental health and promote well-being; however, there are no clinical trials that have combined long-term stress biomarkers (hair cortisol) and psychometric assessments in a sample of university workers. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based program on long-term stress, by measuring hair cortisol concentration and perceived stress and anxiety among workers who were undergoing high levels of stress. METHOD: We conducted a randomized clinical trial at work among the employees of a public university. We compared a group that received the eight-week mindfulness intervention with the wait list group who received no intervention. RESULTS: A total of 30 participants were included in the study, with n = 15 subjects in the intervention group and n = 15 in the control group. Hair cortisol, perceived stress and anxiety significantly reduced after the intervention compared to the control group, which had no appreciable decline in the measured variables. CONCLUSION: This clinical trial showed the effectiveness of a mindfulness program on mental health psychometric measures (perceived stress and anxiety) and on a long-term stress biomarker (hair cortisol). It can be concluded that an eight-week mindfulness program could be implemented as an effective strategy to reduce stress biomarkers (hair cortisol) as well as perceived stress and anxiety, improving the mental health of university workers.

Relationship between early-life stress and trait mindfulness in adulthood: a correlational study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between early-life stress (ELS) and the trait mindfulness level in workers. METHOD: This study is quantitative cross-sectional and correlational research with a sample of 929 workers from a Brazilian public university. ELS and mindfulness assessment was performed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-BR (FFMQ-BR), respectively. The data were submitted to correlation tests adopting a significance level of .05 and a multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: 50.0% of the participants obtained a score indicative of ELS exposure in at least one subtype among the five proposed by the CTQ, with emotional neglect predominating (63.0%). The group not exposed to emotional abuse had higher scores in the "describe-positive formulation" and "non-reactivity to inner experience" facets. Those that scored for physical abuse had higher values in "acting with awareness-autopilot". However, the group exposed to sexual abuse obtained the highest score in the "acting with awareness-autopilot" and "acting with awareness-distraction" facets. The correlation between FFMQ-BR and CTQ overall scores showed a weak correlation with statistical significance. The multiple linear revealed that the facets of mindfulness were significantly associated by at least one type of early stress; however, no significant association was found between CTQ and FFMQ-BR overall results. CONCLUSION: The results showed that emotional regulation might have effectively occurred in this specific population, even with the presence of some childhood trauma.

Perceived Stress Associated Factors in Workers at a Public University.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the predictors of perceived stress in a broad sample of workers at a Brazilian public university. METHOD: Cross-sectional study carried out with a convenience sample of workers at a public university in Brazil. To be included in the present study, the worker had to be an administrative technician. From March to August, 2017, workers were surveyed, and 929 participants answered the questionnaires of sociodemographic characterization, work and health conditions, perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory). RESULTS: The multiple linear regression showed that higher perceived stress was associated with being younger and male, occupying a higher or technical position, and presenting higher levels of depression and anxiety. CONCLUSION: These findings have implications for occupational health nurses and other health professionals to identify workers at risk for chronic and mental illness through predictors of perceived stress and to guide institutions in planning practical actions for stress management interventions.

Perceived Stress Associated Factors in Workers at a Public University / Fatores associados ao estresse percebido em trabalhadores de uma universidade pública / Factores asociados al estrés percibido en trabajadores de una universidad pública

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the predictors of perceived stress in a broad sample of workers at a Brazilian public university. Method: Cross-sectional study carried out with a convenience sample of workers at a public university in Brazil. To be included in the present study, the worker had to be an administrative technician. From March to August, 2017, workers were surveyed, and 929 participants answered the questionnaires of sociodemographic characterization, work and health conditions, perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory). Results: The multiple linear regression showed that higher perceived stress was associated with being younger and male, occupying a higher or technical position, and presenting higher levels of depression and anxiety. Conclusion: These findings have implications for occupational health nurses and other health professionals to identify workers at risk for chronic and mental illness through predictors of perceived stress and to guide institutions in planning practical actions for stress management interventions.

RESUMO Objetivo: descrever os preditores de estresse percebido em uma ampla amostra de trabalhadores de uma universidade pública brasileira. Método: Estudo transversal realizado com amostra de conveniência de trabalhadores de uma universidade pública no Brasil. Para ser incluído no presente estudo, o trabalhador deveria ser técnico-administrativo. Entre março e agosto de 2017, os trabalhadores foram pesquisados, e 929 participantes no total responderam aos questionários de caracterização sociodemográfica, condições de trabalho e saúde, estresse percebido (Escala de Estresse Percebido), depressão (Inventário de Depressão de Beck) e ansiedade (Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck). Resultados: A regressão linear múltipla mostrou que maior estresse percebido estava associado a ser mais jovem e do sexo masculino, ocupar cargo de nível superior ou técnico e apresentar níveis mais elevados de depressão e ansiedade. Conclusão: Esses achados têm implicações para enfermeiros de saúde ocupacional e outros profissionais de saúde identificarem trabalhadores em risco de doenças crônicas e mentais por meio de preditores de estresse percebido e orientar instituições no planejamento de ações práticas para intervenções de manejo do estresse.

RESUMEN Objetivo: describir los predictores del estrés percibido en una amplia muestra de trabajadores de una universidad pública brasileña. Método: Estudio transversal realizado con muestreo de conveniencia de trabajadores de una universidad pública de Brasil. Para ser incluido en el presente estudio, el trabajador debí a ser técnico-administrativo. Entre marzo y agosto de 2017, se encuestó a los trabajadores y 929 participantes en total respondieron los cuestionarios de caracterización sociodemográfica, condiciones de trabajo y de salud, estrés percibido (Escala de Estrés Percibido), depresión (Inventario de Depresión de Beck) y ansiedad (Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck). Resultados: La regresión lineal múltiple mostró que un mayor estrés percibido se asoció con ser más joven y de sexo masculino, ocupar una posición superior o de nivel técnico y presentar niveles más elevados de depresión y ansiedad. Conclusión: Estos hallazgos tienen implicaciones para que los enfermeros de salud ocupacional y otros profesionales de la salud identifiquen a los trabajadores en riesgo de enfermedades crónicas y mentales a través de predictores del estrés percibido y guíen a las instituciones en la planificación de acciones prácticas para las intervenciones de manejo del estrés.

Efetividade de uma intervenção baseada em Mindfulness para redução de estresse e melhora da qualidade de vida em estudantes de enfermagem: Effects on stress and quality of life / Mindfulness based intervention for nursing students / Efectividad de una intervencion basada en Mindfulness para reduccion de estres y mejora de la calidad de vida en estudiantes de enfermeria

OBJETIVO: avaliar a efetividade de uma intervenção para redução de estresse baseada em Mindfulness em aspectos relacionados à Qualidade de Vida, Atenção Plena e Estresse Percebido, em estudantes de graduação e pós-graduação em enfermagem. MÉTODO: aplicados instrumentos de avaliação para a construção de uma linha basal e posteriormente a amostra foi submetida a um Programa de Redução de Estresse e aumento da Qualidade de Vida baseado em Mindfulness, formatado em encontros semanais por oito semanas. RESULTADOS: após a intervenção, houve diminuição do nível de Estresse Percebido, aumento do nível de Atenção Plena e melhora da Qualidade de Vida em âmbito psicológico. CONCLUSÃO: intervenções baseadas em Mindfulness se mostram efetivas e podem constituir um importante recurso para o gerenciamento do estresse e melhora na Qualidade de Vida dos estudantes.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to reduce stress based on Mindfulness in aspects related to Quality of Life, Mindfulness and Perceived Stress in undergraduate and postgraduate students of Nursing. METHOD: evaluation instruments were applied to establish baseline data, and the sample was subsequently submitted to a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Quality of Life, formatted eight consecutive weeks. RESULTS: after the intervention, there was a decrease in the level of Perceived Stress, increase in the level of Mindfulness and improvement of the Quality of Life in the psychological area. CONCLUSION: interventions based in Mindfulness are effective and can offer important resources for managing stress and improving the Quality of Life of students.

OBJETIVO: evaluar la efectividad de una intervención para reducción de estrés basada en Mindfulness en relación a la Calidad de Vida, Atención Plena y Estrés Percibido, en universitarios y estudiantes de postgrado de Enfermería. MÉTODO: previamente se aplicaron instrumentos de evaluación para la construcción de una línea basal y posteriormente la muestra fue sometida a un Programa de Reducción de Estrés y aumento de la Calidad de Vida basado en Mindfulness, constituído de encuentros semanales, durante ocho semanas consecutivas. RESULTADOS: se observó que después de la intervención, hubo disminución del nivel de Estrés Percibido, aumento del nivel de Atención Plena y mejora de la Calidad de Vida en ámbito psicológico. CONCLUSIÓN: intervencones basadas en Mindfulness se muestran efectivas y pueden constituir un importante recurso para manejar el estrés y mejorar la Calidad de Vida de los estudiantes.

Intervenção baseada em Mindfulness para redução do estresse percebido, depressão e ansiedade em trabalhadores de uma universidade pública: ensaio clínico randomizado / Mindfulness-based intervention for reducing perceived stress, depression and anxiety among workers in a public university: randomized clinical trial

Introdução. Práticas baseadas em Mindfulness têm apresentado resultados promissores para saúde mental e mudanças positivas no contexto laboral. Objetivo. Determinar se a intervenção de práticas baseadas em Mindfulness aplicada por oito semanas é capaz de diminuir os níveis de estresse percebido, depressão, ansiedade e burnout, e aumentar o nível de atenção plena em uma amostra de trabalhadores técnico-administrativos de uma universidade pública. Método. O estudo contou com duas etapas. A primeira trata-se de um estudo analítico de corte transversal, e a segunda de um ensaio clínico controlado randomizado. Realizado em unidades de ensino e setores administrativos do campus da Universidade de São Paulo de Ribeirão Preto, com trabalhadores da categoria técnico-administrativa. Participaram da primeira etapa 929 sujeitos. Realizada regressão linear logística múltipla em modelo ajustado e não ajustado para os escores de estresse percebido, com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Na segunda etapa participaram 60 sujeitos, randomizados para um grupo que recebeu uma intervenção com práticas baseadas em Mindfulness por oito semanas (Programa Mindfulness) (Grupo Experimental [GE]: 30 participantes) e outro que não recebeu nenhuma intervenção (Grupo Controle [GC]: 30 participantes). O principal desfecho avaliado foi o estresse percebido por meio da Escala de Estresse Percebido (PSS14). Os desfechos secundários foram: depressão pelo Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI-II), ansiedade pelo Inventário Ansiedade de Beck (BAI), burnout pela escala Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) e atenção plena pelo Questionário das Cinco Facetas de Mindfulness (FFMQ-BR). Todos avaliados antes (T0) e após a intervenção (T1). Realizada análise descritiva, teste do Qui-quadrado de Pearson e teste Exato de Fisher para comparar distribuições das variáveis entre GE e GC, teste de Mann-Whitney para avaliar mudanças intergrupos entre T0 e T1. Adotado critério de significância de 0,05 em todas as análises. Ensaio clínico registrado sob o número UTN: U1111-1179-7619. Resultados. Na primeira etapa, dentre as variáveis que isoladamente se associaram ao escore do estresse percebido, cinco permaneceram preditoras no modelo ajustado: idade (p<0,001), ser do sexo masculino (p<0,001), ocupar cargo de nível técnico (p=0,013) quando comparado ao nível básico, e o escores de depressão (p<0,001) e ansiedade (p<0,001). O modelo ajustado explicou 57,9% da variação dos dados da Escala de Estresse Percebido. Na segunda etapa, o GE apresentou redução dos escores médios de estresse percebido (p<0,001), depressão (p<0,001), ansiedade (p=0,003) e aumento do escore médio total de atenção plena (p=0,012) e em duas facetas da escala (3-observar: p=0,010 e 6-não reagir à experiência interna: p=0,002), quando comparado ao GC. O mesmo efeito pós-intervenção não foi observado para burnout em escore total (p=0,314) e em nenhuma das dimensões da escala (Exaustão Emocional: p=0,083; Cinismo: p=0,736 e Eficácia no Trabalho: p=0,486). Conclusões. Os resultados da primeira etapa contribuem para a compreensão dos principais preditores do estresse percebido em uma amostra de trabalhadores técnico-administrativos de uma instituição pública de ensino superior. Na segunda etapa, os resultados demonstram que o Programa Mindfulness resultou na diminuição do estresse percebido, depressão, ansiedade e aumento da atenção plena, constatando o potencial benéfico da intervenção para uma amostra não clínica de trabalhadores

Introduction. Mindfulness-based practices have showing promising results for mental health and positive changes at workplace context. Objective. Determinate that Mindfulness-based practice intervention applied for eight weeks is able to decrease the levels of perceived stress, depression, anxiety and burnout, and increase the level of mindfulness in a sample of technicaladministrative workers from a public university. Method. The study had two fases. The first is a cross-sectional study, and the second is a randomized clinical trial. It was carried out in teaching and administrative sectors at the University of São Paulo campus of Ribeirão Preto, with technical-administrative workers. A total of 929 subjects participated in first stage. Multiple logistic linear regression performed in an adjusted and not adjusted model for perceived stress scores, with the confidence interval at 95%. In the second fase, 60 subjects were randomized to a group that received a Mindfulness-based practices intervention for eight weeks (Mindfulness Program) (Experimental Group [EG]: 30 participants) and to a group that received no intervention (Control Group [CG]: 30 participants). The main outcome evaluated was perceived stress, through the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS14). The secondary outcomes were depression by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), anxiety by Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), burnout by Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS), and Mindfulness by Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-BR). Outcomes were assessed before (T0) and after the intervention (T1). Descriptive analysis, Pearson's Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were performed to compare distributions of the variables between EG and CG groups. Mann-Whitney test performed to evaluate intergroup changes between T0 and T1. We adopted a significance criteria of 0.05 in all analyzes. Clinical trial registered under the number UTN: U1111-1179-7619. Results. In the first fase, five variables were individually associated with the perceived stress score, remaining predictors in the adjusted model: age (p <0.001), being male (p <0.001), occupying a technical level position (p = 0.013) when compared to basic level position and depression (p <0.001) and anxiety scores (p <0.001). The adjusted model explained 57.9% of the variation in the Perceived Stress Scale. At the second stage, the EG presented a reduction in the mean scores for perceived stress (p<0.001), depression (p<0.001) and anxiety (p=0.003), and increased the total mean score for Mindfulness (p=0.012) and at the facet 3observe p=0.010 and facet 6-do not react to internal experience: p=0.002, when compared to CG. The same post-intervention effect was not observed for burnout at the total score (p=0.314) and in none of the dimensions of the scale (Emotional Exhaustion: p=0.083; Cynicism: p=0.736 and Work Efficacy: p=.486). Conclusions. The results obtained in the first fase contribute to understand the main predictors of perceived stress in a sample of technical-administrative workers in a higher education public institution. In the second fase, the results show that Mindfulness Program resulted in reduction of perceived stress, depression, anxiety and increased Mindfulness, noting the beneficial potential of the intervention for a non-clinical sample of workers