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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05056428

Effects of Mindfulness Training on Emotional Care Strategies

Teachers in Hong Kong are susceptible to professional stress and its associated psychosomatic illnesses. To enhance teachers' well-being, mindfulness training is conducted in local schools. The present study is a randomized controlled trial to investigate 1) the effects of mindfulness training on teachers' well-being (i.e. general health, positive affect, stress, negative affect); 2) whether decentering strategy (vs. cognitive reappraisal strategy) is nurtured by mindfulness practice; and 3) whether decentering instead of cognitive reappraisal is the mediator that explains the impact of mindfulness on well-being. Participants will be randomized to either intervention (8-week .b Foundations course) or waiting-list control condition.

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Key information

Conditions

Mental Health Issue

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Jockey Club "Peace and Awareness" Mindfulness Culture in Schools Initiative, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

About this study

All the participants will complete an online survey before (baseline), after (post-intervention), and two-months (follow-up) after the intervention. A subset of participants (N = 30) will complete an electroencephalography (EEG) experiment.

Prior to the experiment, participants will complete an online questionnaire writing down eight recent autobiographical situations: four reflecting a neutral experience, two reflecting events that triggered anxiety, and two reflecting events that triggered sadness. After writing about each situation, participants will be asked to identify five keywords that are both unique and tightly linked to each situation.

During the experiment, participants will be reminded of the autobiographical situations in the computerized task. Participants will be asked to view the keywords (i.e. control condition); step back and view the keywords like an impartial observer, allowing whatever thoughts or emotions arise to come and go (i.e. decentering condition); and think about the keywords from different perspective to minimize negative emotions (i.e. reappraisal condition). EEG will be recorded while participants complete the task. Participants will receive $200 Hong Kong dollars each time as a remuneration for the time to participate in the experiment.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 18 years old or above
  • Working in local schools or education institutions
  • Willing to participate in mindfulness training voluntarily

Exclusion criteria

  • Have history of neurological or psychiatric disorder, brain injury, birth complications, or significant sensory impairment
  • Currently under medications that are known to affect the brain (e.g. anti-depressants, epileptica, tranquilizer, sleep medication, psychotropics, ritalin, concerta, etc.)
  • Experiencing severe or unstable mental health condition currently
  • Completed 8-week mindfulness training previously
  • Unwilling to go by random assignment

Treatment and study plan

8-week mindfulness program

Behavioral

The .b Foundations course is an 8-week mindfulness program developed by Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP) for school teachers and personnel. It includes a taster session and 8 weekly sessions. Each session lasts for 1.5 hours with a specific theme (e.g. Lesson 1 waking up from autopilot). Formal and informal mindfulness practices (e.g. mindful eating, body scan, mindful walking, habit releaser etc.), psychoeducation, cognitive exercises, inquiry, and home practice are involved.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in General Health

    Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, Two-months after intervention

    General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), 12 items, 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always)

  2. Change in Stress

    Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, Two-months after intervention

    Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), 10 items, 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Positive affect

    Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, Two-months after intervention

    Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), 4 items, 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always)

  2. Change in Negative affect

    Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, Two-months after intervention

    Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), 4 items, 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always)

  3. Change in Decentering

    Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, Two-months after intervention

    Non Reactivity Subscale of Chinese Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-C), 4 items, 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always)

  4. Change in Reappraisal

    Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, Two-months after intervention

    Reappraisal subscale of Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), 6 items, 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always)

  5. Change in Mindfulness

    Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, Two-months after intervention

    Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R), 12 items, 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always)

  6. Change in Late positive potential (LPP)

    Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention

    A measure of emotional reactivity in EEG experiment; the amplitude of event-related potential (ERP) time-locked to the presentation of emotional stimulus (-200ms to 6000ms).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The University of Hong Kong

Other

Collaborators

  • Chinese University of Hong Kong

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Sep 24, 2021
Registry last updated
May 18, 2022

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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