Mindfulness Training for Senior Leaders
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The overarching goal of the project is to investigate if a mindfulness-based attention training (MBAT) program contextualized for Military Senior Leaders (SLs) might benefit SLs in three key domains: (1) cognitive abilities, (2) psychological well-being and self-reported physical health, and (3) strategic leadership skills and ability. The MBAT-SL program will be tested by the training cohorts and compared to the wait-list control cohorts who will receive the training after a no-training interval.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Group A (MT group) Participants will receive 4 weeks of mindfulness training. |
Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT) web-course
Pre-recorded weekly sessions for 4 weeks. Each session will consist of approximately 2 hours of video content per week and weekly mindfulness exercises. This video will include MBAT program lectures, pre-recorded testimony from military leaders, and teaching materials. The course will also include 15-min daily mindfulness practice drills.
|
| Active Comparator: Group B (Wait-list group) Participants will begin with a 4-week no-training interval followed by 4 weeks of mindfulness training. |
Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT) web-course
Pre-recorded weekly sessions for 4 weeks. Each session will consist of approximately 2 hours of video content per week and weekly mindfulness exercises. This video will include MBAT program lectures, pre-recorded testimony from military leaders, and teaching materials. The course will also include 15-min daily mindfulness practice drills.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change in Sustained attention to response task (SART) score [Baseline (T1) to week 6 (T2) and week 11 (T3).]
The SART involves pressing a button to frequently presented non-target trials (numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) and withholding the button press to the infrequent target trials (number 3). The participants can have a total score between 0 and 100% with a higher score indicating better sustained attention.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Change in the Working Memory Task with Affective Distraction (WMDA) score [Baseline (T1) to week 6 (T2) and week 11 (T3).]
participants are presented with a memory item that they need to memorize and hold in memory during a delay interval. During the delay, emotionally negative or neutral scene images are presented. he participants can have a total score between 0 and 100% with a higher score indicating better working memory.
- Change in 5FMQ scores [Baseline (T1) to week 6 (T2) and week 11 (T3).]
Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (5FMQ) is used to assess the five major aspects of mindfulness. The present study will use the 15-item short version. The scores range from 15 to 75, with higher scores indicating greater levels of mindfulness in different aspects of one's life.
- Change in PHQ4 scores [Baseline (T1) to week 6 (T2) and week 11 (T3).]
Patient Health Questionnaire 4 items (PHQ4) is an ultra-brief 4-item measure of depression and anxiety in the general population with the total score ranging from 0 to 12. Higher score indicates higher level of anxiety and depression.
- Change in PANAS scores [Baseline (T1) to week 6 (T2) and week 11 (T3).]
Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) is a widely used self-reported measure of positive and negative affect. The present study will use the 10-item short version with 5-item positive subscale and 5-item negative subscale. The score for each sub-scale ranges from 5 to 25 with higher score indicating higher positive or negative mood, respectively.
- Change in PSS scores [Baseline (T1) to week 6 (T2) and week 11 (T3).]
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a questionnaire measuring the degree to which situations in one's life are viewed as stressful within the past month. The present study will use the 4-item short version, with the total score ranging from 0 to 16. Higher score indicates higher level of perceived stress.
- Change in ISI scores [Baseline (T1) to week 6 (T2) and week 11 (T3).]
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a self-reported assessment of sleep pattern and quality. The index consists of 7-items and the scores range from 0 to 28, with higher scores indicating severe insomnia.
- Change in R-UCLA scores [Baseline (T1) to week 6 (T2) and week 11 (T3).]
Revised-UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA) measures one's perceptions of isolation and satisfaction with one's social life. This is a shortened 9-item version of the R-UCLA with scores ranging from 9 to 36. Higher scores indicate greater perceived isolation.
- Change in Decentering score [Baseline (T1) to week 6 (T2) and week 11 (T3).]
Decentering consists of 11 items measuring various thoughts and experiences, and the tendency to distance from those. The decentering score ranges from 1 to 55, with higher score indicating high level of decentering.
- Change in Anger score [Baseline (T1) to week 6 (T2) and week 11 (T3).]
Dimensions of Anger Reactions (DAR-5) is a self-report measure of anger frequency, intensity, duration, aggression, and impact on social functioning over the past 4 weeks. The scale includes 4 items with a score range of 5-25. Higher scores indicate worse symptomatology, and a score equal to or greater than 12 indicates problematic anger levels.
Other Outcome Measures
- Change in Marital Satisfaction [Baseline (T1) to week 6 (T2) and week 11 (T3).]
Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSAT) measures one's satisfaction in their current relationship. The scale includes 4 items with a score range of 3-21. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction with a current relationship.
- Change in Leadership Questionnaire [Baseline (T1) to week 6 (T2) and week 11 (T3).]
Leadership Questionnaire consists of a set of questions that gather information about the self-reported leadership skills and attitudes of Senior Army leaders.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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Individuals who are between 18 and 65 years of age.
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Individuals who are fluent English speakers.
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Individuals who are active-duty service members
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Individuals who are willing and able to consent to participate in the study.
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Individuals who participated in the courses provided by the Army War College (AWC).
Exclusion Criteria:
- Individuals who have been hospitalized for psychological/mental health issues within the last month
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Miami | Coral Gables | Florida | United States | 33146 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University of Miami
- United States Department of Defense
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Amishi Jha, University of Miami
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 20201075
- W911QY-17-C-0101