Stress, subjective wellbeing and self-knowledge in higher education teachers: A pilot study through bodyfulness approaches.

Work-related stress is a major cause of health problems worldwide. Faculty in educational institutions, including universities, also face high levels of stress, which undoubtedly affects their performance, level of personal satisfaction and wellbeing, and the relationship with students. Training interventions based on embodied learning can promote self-knowledge, emotional regulation and stress reduction, thereby increasing levels of psychological well-being. The present pilot study analyzed the impact of body awareness training in 31 university teachers using a controlled, randomized pre-post experimental design, with two experimental groups and a control group (n = 10). The two interventions were: Hatha Yoga (n = 11) and Dance Movement Therapy/Body Mind Centering (n = 10), which we have termed Body Movement Awareness. Variables related to body awareness, mindfulness, wellbeing, life satisfaction and stress were measured using self-perception tests. Cortisol levels, heart rate variability and sleep quality were also analyzed. Finally, participants' reflections were analyzed according to a qualitative approach. The results showed significant differences between the control group and the Hatha Yoga group in terms of stress reduction and wellbeing. The Body Movement Awareness group exhibited evidence of contributions on self-knowledge, communication and kinesthetic empathy, key elements in the educational field. Despite the inherent limitations of the study, the conclusions are encouraging and open new lines of research from embodied approaches that introduce creative movement and group experience as part of the process of emotional regulation and self-knowledge.

From the inside: Dancing between burnout and engagement in a prison.

OBJECTIVES: Professionals who work in prisons present high levels of chronic stress that affect their daily performance and health. The incorporation of training workshops on emotional regulation and stress coping strategies from a psycho-body approach could have a positive impact on their well-being. This article presents an exploratory study that analyzes chronic stress, emotional repertoire and body awareness, of a sample of 15 professionals from a prison, together with the effect produced by an intervention through training workshops with Dance Movement Therapy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A mixed methodology with a pretest-posttest design was used. The variables of burnout, engagement, emotional repertoire and body awareness were measured. With the information obtained from a participatory focus group, a six-hour body awareness program was designed and implemented, during which participants completed reflective diaries for subsequent analysis. RESULTS: High levels of stress and low body awareness were found. Qualitative analysis generated evidence for improvements in body awareness and the incorporation of coping strategies based on listening to body sensations and emotional regulation. Pre-post test analysis for a subsample (n = 4) of the total showed improvements in different subscales, not statistically significant, but with medium effect sizes. DISCUSSION: Despite the limitations of the study, the results are promising. The participants value the workshop very positively and consider having incorporated tools to cope with work stress.

Desde dentro: bailando entre el burnout y el engagement en un centro penitenciario / From the inside: Dancing between burnout and engagement in a prison

Objetivos: Los profesionales que trabajan en centros penitenciarios, presentan altos niveles de estrés crónico que afectan a su desempeño diario y a su salud. La incorporación de talleres de regulación emocional y estrategias de afrontamiento del estrés, desdeun enfoque psicocorporal, podrían tener un impacto positivo en su bienestar. Este estudio exploratorio pretende analizar el estréscrónico, el repertorio emocional y la consciencia corporal, de una muestra inicial de 15 profesionales de un centro penitenciario,así como los efectos producidos por una intervención a través de talleres formativos con danza movimiento terapia (DMT).Material y método: Se utilizó una metodología mixta con diseño pre-post test, midiendo las variables burnout, engagement, repertorioemocional y consciencia corporal (CC). Con la información obtenida de un focus group (FG) participativo, se diseñó e implementó unprograma de CC de seis horas de duración, durante el cual los participantes cumplimentaron diarios reflexivos para su posterior análisis.Resultados: Se encontraron altos niveles de estrés y baja CC. El análisis cualitativo generó evidencias en cuanto a mejoras de laCC y la incorporación de estrategias de afrontamiento basadas en la escucha de las sensaciones corporales y la regulación emocional. El análisis pre-post test para una submuestra (n = 4) del total mostró mejoras en distintas subescalas, no estadísticamentesignificativas, pero con tamaños de efecto medios.Discusión: A pesar de las limitaciones del estudio, los resultados son prometedores. Los participantes valoran de modo muypositivo el taller realizado y consideran haber incorporado herramientas para afrontar el estrés laboral. (AU)

Objectives: Professionals who work in prisons present high levels of chronic stress that affect their daily performance andhealth. The incorporation of training workshops on emotional regulation and stress coping strategies from a psycho-bodyapproach could have a positive impact on their well-being. This article presents an exploratory study that analyzes chronicstress, emotional repertoire and body awareness, of a sample of 15 professionals from a prison, together with the effect produced by an intervention through training workshops with Dance Movement Therapy.Material and method: A mixed methodology with a pretest-posttest design was used. The variables of burnout, engagement, emotional repertoire and body awareness were measured. With the information obtained from a participatory focus group, a six-hour bodyawareness program was designed and implemented, during which participants completed reflective diaries for subsequent analysis.Results: High levels of stress and low body awareness were found. Qualitative analysis generated evidence for improvements inbody awareness and the incorporation of coping strategies based on listening to body sensations and emotional regulation. Prepost test analysis for a subsample (n = 4) of the total showed improvements in different subscales, not statistically significant,but with medium effect sizes.Discussion: Despite the limitations of the study, the results are promising. The participants value the workshop very positivelyand consider having incorporated tools to cope with work stress. (AU)

Re-inhabiting one's body: A pilot study on the effects of dance movement therapy on body image and alexithymia in eating disorders.

BACKGROUND: Body image disturbance and alexithymia are two core aspects of Eating Disorders (EDs). However, standard treatments for EDs do not include specific techniques to approach these issues on a bodily level. This pilot study evaluated the effects of a Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) intervention on body image and alexithymia in patients with EDs, and also explored their experience of the therapeutic process. METHOD: 14 patients with EDs were recruited from a private clinic. Seven were assigned via quasi-randomization to the DMT group and the others (n = 5) continued their treatment as usual. The length of the intervention was 14 weeks. All participants completed the Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) at the beginning and at the end of the intervention. Additionally, the DMT group wrote reflective diaries about their experience at the end of each session, which were analyzed using qualitative methods. RESULTS: Between the pre- and post-intervention, the participants of the DMT group significantly improved in Body Areas Satisfaction (effect size: 0.95) and Appearance Evaluation (effect size: 1.10), and they decreased significantly in Appearance Orientation (effect size: 1.30). A decrease in Overweight Preoccupation was observed (effect size: 0.75), however this was not statistically significant. The control group did not show significant changes in any of the MBSRQ subscales. Neither the DMT group nor the control group improved significantly in the alexithymia scores. The qualitative analysis revealed valuable insights into the participants' processes throughout the sessions. In general, participants received the DMT intervention positively. They reported improvements in their mood states and an increase in their self-awareness. They also appreciated the relationship with the group and the therapist. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that DMT might be a complementary treatment option for EDs, as it may be able to address body image issues more effectively than verbal therapies. More studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these promising preliminary results.