Well-Being Training for Educator Stress

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen byMatthew J Hirshberg

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the four-week Healthy Minds Program (HMP) app Foundations training in employees of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in Louisville, KY. The study will enroll 1300 JCPS employees. After completing the baseline assessment, participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention (i.e., the Healthy Minds Program App) or to a "Choice" control condition. HMP assigned participants will receive instructions and support in downloading and activating the app. Choice assigned participants will receive a list of resources that are focused on the science of well-being and happiness consisting of TED talk videos and books. 10 copies of each suggested book will be available for participants to check out. TED talk video links will be provided and are free to watch. Each week during the 4-week intervention period, participants in both conditions will complete the same weekly set of measures. Within two-weeks following the end of the intervention period, all participants will complete the post-test assessment. Approximately five to six months following post-test, participants will complete the follow-up assessment. In addition to study team collected data, the research team will receive from the district multiple years of student records (e.g., standardized assessments, attendance, disciplinary referrals) linked to teachers (teachers only, not other categories of employees who choose to participate). The researchers predict that participants assigned to the intervention will demonstrate significantly reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms and significantly improved well-being after the intervention, and these improvements will persist at the follow-up (primary outcomes). It is hypothesized that baseline participant characteristics and early experience of the intervention will predict treatment adherence, study drop-out and outcomes, and that treatment engagement will moderate outcomes. In addition, the investigators predict that intervention period improvements on well-being skills assessed weekly will mediate long-term improvements on primary outcomes.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for employees of Jefferson County Public Schools who are at least 18 years old, have a smartphone or device to download apps, and some experience with meditation or yoga. It's not for anyone under 18.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 18 years old or older.

Employee of participating district/state

Smartphone or device that can download apps from Google Play or the iTunes app store

Exclusion Criteria

Previous use of the HMP app

I am under 18 years old.

Significant meditation experience: Meditation retreat experience (meditation retreat or yoga/body practice retreat with significant meditation component)

+2 more

Participant Groups

The study tests the Healthy Minds Program app against a control group given resources on well-being. Participants will use these tools over four weeks and their mental health outcomes like anxiety and depression will be measured.

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Placebo Group

Group I: Healthy Minds Program (HMP) GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants in the experimental arm will be assigned to the Healthy Minds Program Foundations training (HMP) which consists of 30-days of didactic and experiential content in a scientifically-derived model of well-being. A second random assignment will occur among intervention participants in which participants will receive the standard Foundations training or the Foundations training plus once per day push notifications (i.e., a micro-interventions) that provide a very brief opportunity to practice with the HMP content of that day. HMP participants will not be made aware of this second assignment.

Group II: Choice GroupPlacebo Group1 Intervention

Participants assigned to the Choice group will receive a list of digital (i.e., links to TED talks) and hard-copy (i.e., books) resources that focus on the science of well-being and may support well-being. It is up to participants whether and to what extent they choose to engage with these resources. A study library with 10 copies of each recommended book will be accessible to participants should they wish to read any of the suggested books. After follow-up testing, Choice group participants will be provided free access to the HMP training.