Workplace Aggression: A Multi-Study Examination of Work and Nonwork Consequences

Demsky, Caitlin A.

doi:10.15760/etd.2335

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 224 publications

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“…In Australia, the combined annual cost of absenteeism and presenteeism attributable to poor mental health is >US $11 billion, representing a significant economic burden [ 9 ]. Furthermore, the consequences of chronic stress include inattentiveness and antisocial or aggressive behavior that can be detrimental to work-based relationships and performance [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of a Mindfulness App on Employee Stress in an Australian Public Sector Workforce: Randomized Controlled Trial

Bartlett¹,

Martin²,

Kilpatrick³

et al. 2022

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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Background Workplace-based mindfulness programs have good evidence for improving employee stress and mental health outcomes, but less is known about their effects on productivity and citizenship behaviors. Most of the available evidence is derived from studies of mindfulness programs that use class-based approaches. Mindfulness apps can increase access to training, but whether self-directed app use is sufficient to realize benefits equivalent to class-based mindfulness programs is unknown. Objective We assessed the effectiveness of a mindfulness app, both with and without supporting classes, for reducing employees’ perceived stress. Changes in mindfulness, mental health, quality of life, perceptions of job demand, control and support, productivity indicators, organizational citizenship, and mindful behaviors at work were also investigated. Methods Tasmanian State Service employees were invited by the Tasmanian Training Consortium to a 3-arm randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of a mindfulness app on stress. The app used in the Smiling Mind Workplace Program formed the basis of the intervention. The app includes lessons, activities, and guided meditations, and is supported by 4 instructional emails delivered over 8 weeks. Engagement with the app for 10-20 minutes, 5 days a week, was recommended. Reported data were collected at baseline (time point 0), 3 months from baseline (time point 1 [T1]), and at 6-month follow-up (time point 2). At time point 0, participants could nominate a work-based observer to answer surveys about participants’ behaviors. Eligible participants (n=211) were randomly assigned to self-guided app use plus four 1-hour classes (app+classes: 70/211, 33.2%), self-guided app use (app-only: 71/211, 33.6%), or waitlist control (WLC; 70/211, 33.2%). Linear mixed effects models were used to assess changes in the active groups compared with the WLC at T1 and for a head-to-head comparison of the app+classes and app-only groups at follow-up. Results App use time was considerably lower than recommended (app+classes: 120/343 minutes; app-only: 45/343 minutes). Compared with the WLC at T1, no significant change in perceived stress was observed in either active group. However, the app+classes group reported lower psychological distress (β=−1.77, SE 0.75; P=.02; Cohen d=–0.21) and higher mindfulness (β=.31, SE 0.12; P=.01; Cohen d=0.19). These effects were retained in the app+classes group at 6 months. No significant changes were observed for the app-only group or for other outcomes. There were no significant changes in observer measures at T1, but by time point 2, the app+classes participants were more noticeably mindful and altruistic at work than app-only participants. Conclusions Including classes in the training protocol appears to have motivated engagement and led to benefits, whereas self-guided app use did not realize any significant results. Effect sizes were smaller and less consistent than meta-estimates for class-based mindfulness training. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12617001386325; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=372942&isReview

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of a Mindfulness App on Employee Stress in an Australian Public Sector Workforce: Randomized Controlled Trial

Bartlett¹,

Martin²,

Kilpatrick³

et al. 2022

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Effects of a Mindfulness App on Employee Stress in an Australian Public Sector Workforce: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

Bartlett¹,

Martin²,

Kilpatrick³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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BACKGROUND Workplace-based mindfulness programs (WMPs) have good evidence for improving employee stress and mental health outcomes, although less is known about effects on employee productivity and citizenship behaviours. Most of the supporting evidence for WMPs is derived from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of programs that use in-person or online class-based approaches. Mindfulness apps have potential to increase access to training for distributed workforces, but little is known about whether self-directed app use is sufficient to realise benefits equivalent to WMPs that include classes. OBJECTIVE This study primarily aimed to assess the effectiveness of a mindfulness app, both with and without supporting classes, for reducing employees’ perceived stress. Changes in participants’ mindfulness, mental health, quality of life, perceptions of job demand, control and support, productivity indicators, and observer-reported changes in citizenship and mindful behaviours at work were also investigated. METHODS A three-arm randomised controlled trial was conducted in an Australian public sector workforce. The app used in the Smiling Mind Workplace Program (SMWP) formed the basis of the intervention. The app has 43 elements, including lessons, activities and guided meditations, and is supported by four instructional emails delivered over eight weeks. Usage guides recommend 10-20 minutes engagement with the app, five days a week. Reported data were collected using online surveys at baseline (T0), three-months from baseline (T1), then at six-months follow-up (T2). At T0 respondents could nominate a work-based observer to answer some questions about the participant’s behaviours. Eligible participants (n=211) were randomly assigned to self-guided app use plus four one-hour classes (App+), self-guided app use (App-only), or wait-list control (WLC). Linear mixed effects models were used to assess changes in the two active groups compared with the WLC at T1, and for head-to-head comparison of the App+ and App-only groups at follow-up. RESULTS App engagement by the App+ group (35%) and App-only group (13%) was considerably lower than the recommended dose. Compared with the WLC at T1, no significant change in perceived stress was observed in either active group. However, the App+ group, but not the App-only group, reported lower psychological distress (= -1.77, SE=0.75, P=.02, d=0. -21) and higher mindfulness (=0.31, SE=0.12, P=.01, d=0.19). These beneficial effects were retained in the App+ group at six-months. No significant changes were observed in the other study outcomes. Compared with the WLC at T1, observers reported no significant changes in either active group, however, at T2 the App+ participants were more noticeably mindful and altruistic at work than App-only participants. CONCLUSIONS Including classes in the training protocol appears to have motivated engagement and led to benefits, while self-guided app-use did not realise any significant results. Effect sizes were smaller and less consistent than meta-analytic estimates for class-based mindfulness training. CLINICALTRIAL ANZCTR Ref: 12617001386325

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Workplace Aggression: A Multi-Study Examination of Work and Nonwork Consequences

Cited by 2 publications

References 224 publications

Effects of a Mindfulness App on Employee Stress in an Australian Public Sector Workforce: Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of a Mindfulness App on Employee Stress in an Australian Public Sector Workforce: Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of a Mindfulness App on Employee Stress in an Australian Public Sector Workforce: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

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