Abstract
ObjectivesMindfulness training (MT) guidelines recommend that trainers have familiarity and knowledge of the training group as well as extensive MT expertise. Herein, a “train-the-trainer” (TTT) dissemination model was investigated for military service members whose access to MT is threatened by a scarcity of qualified trainers.MethodsUS Army Master Resilience Trainer-Performance Experts (PEs), who had extensive familiarity with soldiers but no prior MT experience, participated in an MT practicum, and then delivered a 4-week MT program (Mindfulness-Based Attention Training, MBAT) contextualized for military personnel. Soldiers (n = 180) undergoing intensive military field training over the study interval were recruited as participants. MBAT was delivered to soldiers by PEs (n = 89) or by a trainer with extensive MT experience (Mindfulness Expert; ME, n = 45) but no military familiarity. The remaining participants served as no-training controls (NTC, n = 46). Soldiers’ performance on sustained attention and working memory (WM) tasks was assessed before (week 0, T1) and after MBAT delivery (week 5, T2), and again 4 weeks later (week 10, T3).ResultsFor all participants, sustained attention and WM performance declined over the high-demand field training interval (p < 0.001). Yet, the PE group declined significantly less in attentional (p = 0.040) and WM (p < 0.001) performance relative to the other groups.ConclusionsThese results suggest that TTT delivery of short-form MT by context-familiar trainers may be an expeditious route by which to increase access to MT in the service of promoting cognitive resilience in high-demand groups.
Highlights
What is the impact of Performance Experts (PEs)-delivered Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT) on attention and working memory (WM) performance in service members undergoing intensive military field training? Second, does the delivery of MBAT by a mindfulness expert (ME) who lacks military context familiarity result in a similar pattern to that observed in the PE-trained group?
These findings revealed that PE-trained participants were best protected against WM performance decline over time relative to the no-training control (NTC) and ME groups
The present findings revealed that while task performance declined over the high-demand military field training interval for all participants, the PE group showed less decline when compared to the NTC group, as well as the ME group
Summary
These results suggest that TTT delivery of short-form MT by context-familiar trainers may be an expeditious route by which to increase access to MT in the service of promoting cognitive resilience in high-demand groups. The training-focused group demonstrated greater protection from performance decline in sustained attention (Jha et al 2015) and WM (Jha et al 2017) compared to the didactic-focused group and the no-training control group These results are encouraging regarding the feasibility of offering short-form MT to military populations to protect against cognitive decline over high-demand intervals. No prior studies have examined if TTT delivery of MT effectively promotes cognitive resilience in active-duty service members To investigate this issue, individuals with significant professional experience working with military personnel but no prior mindfulness practice or training competencies were identified and recruited for involvement in the current study. What is the impact of PE-delivered MBAT on attention and WM performance in service members undergoing intensive military field training? Second, does the delivery of MBAT by a mindfulness expert (ME) who lacks military context familiarity result in a similar pattern to that observed in the PE-trained group?
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