Abstract
In recent years, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are rapidly growing in the workplace. Several meta-analyses conclude that overall MBIs have a moderate effect of alleviating deficit-based experiences, such as burnout and stress, but a small to no effect of promoting asset-based experiences, such as positive affect and well-being. While workplace MBIs vary greatly in their content, format, and duration, the dominant format is still face to face in a group setting, which limits scalability. Our study introduces an emerging workplace intervention called Inner Engineering Online (IEO) and evaluates its effect on reducing stress, burnout, depression, and anxiety and increasing mindfulness and joy. Drawing on the classical yogic science, IEO is a comprehensive web-based multicomponent intervention that utilizes dialectic discourse, meditation, and yogic practices designed to improve physical, mental, and emotional health. Utilizing a randomized active control cross-over experimental design with a sample of 71 employees of an Information Technology company, we tested our hypothesis that IEO training and regular daily yogic practice are likely to lower the stress levels, prevent burnout, and alleviate anxiety and depression, while at the same time promotes positive affect for employees. The results show that IEO program significantly reduces stress only among those who adhere to recommended daily yogic practices. The study is limited by its small sample size. Future research using a large sample is recommended to reexamine the effect of IEO training on occupational health. This trial is registered with NCT04126564.
Highlights
Burnout, stress, and mental ill-health and their adverse effects on individuals, organizations, and society have been persistent and growing among employees and employers across various occupations globally [1]
Participants were recruited from a midsize Information Technology company located in the United States. e opportunity to enroll in Inner Engineering Online (IEO) and participate in the study was offered to employees through a company-wide awareness drive. is is similar to the common recruitment method of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) studies in which participants were mostly self-selected into the study in response to invitation campaigns [8]
49, and more than half of each group had higher than a Bachelor’s degree. Both the groups are comparable in their demographic profile and their baseline scores for health conditions and habits
Summary
Stress, and mental ill-health and their adverse effects on individuals, organizations, and society have been persistent and growing among employees and employers across various occupations globally [1]. In the United States, workplace stressors result in 120,000 deaths each year [4]. In 2008, the total healthcare cost associated with workplace stressors represented 5 to 8% of the national healthcare spending with an expenditure of $190 billion a year [4]. Given this harmful ripple effect of burnout and stress, health promotion targeting burnout and stress has become imperative at workplace.
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