• Elizabeth Vella and Shane McIver.
• Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic., Australia.
• Health Promot J Austr. 2019 Apr 1; 30 (2): 219-227.

Issue AddressedIdentifying ways to manage the psychological and emotional costs of workplace stress is essential. Mindfulness meditation is reported to support mental well-being; however, findings are limited in Australian business settings. Accordingly, this study explored the efficacy of a mindfulness meditation program tailored for an Australian public-sector workplace.MethodsA mixed-methods, single-group, pre-/post-test design was used to evaluate a proof-of-concept mindfulness intervention. Quantitative measures included the Perceived Stress Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Survey data were collected to analyse participant experiences. Participants (n = 65) were recruited from a government organisation. The 8-week program ran weekly for 45 minutes and had a 65% retention rate. Resources were provided to support home practice.ResultsStatistically significant decreases were obtained for perceived stress (d = 0.8) and emotional exhaustion (d = 0.4). Themes from qualitative findings suggested participants experienced an increased recognition of stress triggers, increased ability to detach from stressors, increased calmness and increased ability to prioritise work.ConclusionsQualitative results extend comparable quantitative research by detailing how an appropriately tailored 8-week meditation-based program has the potential to decrease perceived stress in highly stressful work environments. SO WHAT?: Triangulated data suggest that an appropriately adapted mindfulness meditation program can be an effective, efficient and low-cost inclusion within an organisation's health promotion repertoire to help increase mental health among staff.© 2018 Australian Health Promotion Association.

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