The Stress Less With Mindfulness Program: Motivations, Benefits, and Barriers to Participation in a Community-Based Mindfulness Program

Abstract

The family and consumer sciences (FCS) knowledge base includes three core elements: human well-being, family strengths, and community vitality. In order to increase knowledge in these three elements while enhancing relevancy to contemporary society, FCS professionals might consider mindfulness training as a component of their programming. This paper describes an evaluation study of Stress Less with Mindfulness (SLM), a 5-module program to reduce stress and build emotional skills that was conducted with 70 participants in 8 workplace sites. Questions were asked about motivation for attendance, benefits of participation, and barriers to practicing skills. Pre- and post-surveys and inventories were used to collect data. Most attended because they felt stressed or wanted to help someone else who felt stressed. They increased skills in relaxation, coping, and identifying stress cues. Barriers to using the techniques included time constraints, difficulty practicing self-awareness, misunderstanding of control, and inability to give up bad habits.