Toronto • May 28-29, 2010 • Student Day and Workshops: May 27
Paper: Taking care of those who care: A stress management intervention for anti-violence workers
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Session : 9. Sustainable RTW (2/3)
Day/Time: Friday at 15:15
Room: St. Patrick Room, 3rd Floor
Objectives:
Working with victims of violence is one of the most demanding professional experiences. Anti-violence workers are exposed, on a regular basis, to the difficult stories and excruciating pain of victims/survivors [1]. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has been found to be a successful intervention that helps individuals be less reactive to stress-related events [2]. The objective of this research is to conduct, assess the impact of a MBSR management intervention on stress, depression, and burnout for anti-violence workers.
Methods:
The five residential and 10 non-residential programs of Atira Women’s Resource Society form the site of this research. The study uses a quasi-experimental design that implements a 2 (experimental vs. control group) by 2 (baseline, posttreatment) study design, yielding a between-groups comparison condition. Participants are assigned to receive an 8-week MBSR intervention or to a wait-list control group. Validated tools are being used pre- and post-intervention to measure the degree of burnout, stress, and depression. Records kept at Atira allow us to look at absenteeism rates (sick leave). Potential moderators of the effectiveness of intervention are also investigated, such as experiences of violence, job characteristics (emotional demands, role expectations, control, social support, job insecurity, and work-life balance), and personality traits (Big Five, self-esteem).
Results:
We have conducted the baseline assessment among both the intervention and control groups. Participants of the intervention group are undergoing training, scheduled to finish in February 2010. Data will be analyzed using ANOVA, ANCOVA and repeated measures study design. We will report on the impact of the 8-week stress management intervention on anti-violence workers’ stress, depression and burnout. We will also examine under which conditions the intervention is most likely to be effective.
Conclusions:
"Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction" (MBSR), which includes yoga, meditation and other "mindfulness-based" practices [2], has been found to be beneficial for a variety of health conditions and has the potential to “transform those who work with clients with painful or traumatic experiences…including becoming less reactive to stress-related or anxiety-provoking events” [3]. Studies with medical students and health professionals who engaged in MBSR found statistically significant decreases in levels of psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, and a greater sense of control and adaptability skills as well as empathy [3-9]. This study reports on the impact of MBSR on the health of anti-violence workers.
References:
1. Schauben, L. J. & Frazier, P.A. (1995). Vicarious trauma: The effects on female counselors of working with sexual violence survivors. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 19, 49-64.
2. Kabat-Zinn, J., Massion, A. O., Kristeller, J., Peterson, L. G., Fletcher, K. E., & Pbert, L. (1992). Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 936-943.
3. Christopher, J.C., Christopher, S.E., Dunnagan, T. & Schure, M. (2006). Teaching Self Care Through Mindfulness Practices: The Application of Yoga, Meditation, and QiGong to Counselor Training. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 46 (4). Pp. 494-509.
4. Shapiro, S.L., Brown, K.W. & G.M. Biegel (2007). Teaching Self-Care to Caregivers: Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on the Mental Health of Therapists in Training. Training and Education in Professional Psychology. 1 (2), 105–115
5. Shapiro, S.L., Astin, J.A., Bishop, S.R., & M. Cordova (2005). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health Care Professionals: Results From a Randomized Trial. International Journal of Stress Management, 12 (2), 164–176
6. Rosenzweig, S., Reibel, D. K., Greeson, J. M., Brainard, G. C., & Hojat, M. (2003). Mindfulness-based stress reduction lowers psychological distress in medical students. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 15, 88-92.
7. Bruce, A., Young, L., Turner, L., Vander Wal, R., & Linden, W. (2002). Meditation-based stress reduction: Holistic practice in nursing education. In L. Young & E. Virginia (Eds.), Transforming health promotion practice: Concepts, issues, and applications (pp. 241-252). Victoria, Canada: F. A. Davis.
8. Shapiro, S., Schwartz, G., & Bonner, G. (1998). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on medical and premedical students. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 21, 581-599.
9. Astin, J. A. (1997). Stress reduction through mindfulness meditation. Effects on psychological symptomatology, sense of control, and spiritual experiences. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 66, 97-106.
