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WithdrawnNCT05557266ERME2Updated Feb 24, 2023

Two Recovery Strategies at Work, Based on Mindfulness and Physical Exercise, on Levels of Stress and Biological Measures

An interventional study of Mindfulness-based intervention and Physical exercise in Mental Health Wellness, sponsored by Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia. Withdrawn at 1 site in Spain. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-02-24.

Sponsored by Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was withdrawn
Poor recruitment. The number of interested people did not allow reaching the necessary sample size.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
0
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The present study aims to compare the differential effects of mindfulness meditation (MBI) and physical exercise (PE) on different stress and health variables (self-report means and IgA and cortisol levels). A randomized controlled trial of three groups is proposed, with pretest, posttest and three follow-ups at 1, 3 and 6 months that would be developed among the Guardia Civil (Spanish military police) office staff.

Read the detailed description

Recovery from fatigue and daily work stress involves mentally disconnecting from work. To achieve this disconnection (or psychological detachment), research has shown that engaging in a variety of interesting and motivating activities for individuals after the workday allows them to achieve this disconnected state of mind and, consequently, facilitates recovery from work. Previous research has shown that two of the most effective recovery activities are physical exercise (PE) and mindfulness meditation (MBI), although the results on the differential effects of the two are not conclusive (Karabinski et al, 2021; Steed et al., 2021; Wendsche et al., 2021).

Thus, the present study aims to compare the differential effects of MBI and PE on different stress and health variables (self-report means and IgA and cortisol levels). A randomized controlled trial of three groups is proposed, with pretest, midtest, posttest and three follow-ups at 1, 3 and 6 months that would be developed among the Guardia Civil (Spanish military police) office staff (N ≥ 150). An MBI, an aerobic PE program and an inactive control / waiting list (LE) condition will be contrasted.

The dependent variables considered are: 1) recovery experiences; 2) perceived stress; 3) general health; 4) job satisfaction; 5) work performance; 6) positive and negative affect; 7) daily states of fatigue, stress, psychological distancing, mindfulness, and sleep; 8) IgA levels in saliva; 9) cortisol levels in saliva.

The intervention program is structured for two months, during which the two intervention groups will carry out their recovery strategy (MBI or PE), starting and increasing the practice 5 minutes every two weeks. The control group will continue as usual.

The investigators believe that this study is a quasi-pioneering initiative because of its theme, uses a robust methodology, and will have an important scientific-technical impact. The importance of the topic addressed in terms of health and business productivity is associated with important contributions in terms of knowledge transfer to companies and society in general.

02

Conditions studied

  • Mental Health Wellness

Keywords

  • mindfulness
  • physical exercise
  • meditation
  • mental health
  • stress
  • recovery
  • inmunoglobulin A
  • cortisol
03

In context

Motor Activity

9,798 studies on the registry are indexed under Motor Activity; 1,910 are open to participants now.

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Lead sponsor

Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia is the lead sponsor of 15 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age from 18 to 65 years.
  • To be a full-time worker (≥35 hours/week).

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Currently practicing any type of meditation regularly.
  • Currently practicing physical activity (aerobic or anaerobic) more than once a week.
  • To have a physical or mental illness that prevents moderate exercise or mindfulness practice.
  • Very low self-perceived work load, responsability, stress levels.
  • To take medication that interferes with salivary inmunoglobulin A (SIgA), i.e., pharmacological treatment that can influence the psychological state.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Factorial assignment
Masking
Double (Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
0 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI)

    A 8-week mindfulness-based intervention. From 15 to 30 minutes of practice per session, three times/week through audio guided meditations.

    Behavioral: Mindfulness-based intervention

  • Active comparator
    Physical exercise (PE)

    A 8-week physical exercise intervention. From 15 to 30 minutes of practice per session, three times/week through workout videos.

    Behavioral: Physical exercise

  • No intervention
    Wait list (WL)

    The participants will continue their work activity as usual. This arm will be invited to a mindfulness training once the study finished.

Interventions

  • BehavioralMindfulness-based intervention

    An mindfulness instructor will conduct meditations lasting 15 to 30 minutes. The first day of each week the intervention will be given in streaming and the rest of the days the participants will have audio files designed ad hoc with the practice of the week so they can do it individually at home.

  • BehavioralPhysical exercise

    An aerobic and fitness trainer will conduct aerobic exercise lasting 15 to 30 minutes. The first day of each week the intervention will be given in streaming and the rest of the days the participants will have video files designed ad hoc with the practice of the week so they can do it individually at home.The intensity of the chosen exercise will be moderate, maintaining between 120-140 beats per minute.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Salivary Immunoglobulin A (SIgA)

    Biological measures. Salivary IgA levels as a biomarker of mucosal inmunity. Salivary IgA levels as a biomarker of mucosal inmunity

    Time frame: Baseline 1 week before treatment, Pre-treatment the week the interventions begin, Mid-treatment 5 weeks from baseline, Post-treatment 9 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up

  2. Change in Salivary cortisol with five points data

    Biological measures. Salivary cortisol levels as a biomarker of stress

    Time frame: Baseline 1 week before treatment, Pre-treatment the week the interventions begin, Mid-treatment 5 weeks from baseline, Post-treatment 9 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up

  3. Change in General Health with six time points data.

    The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) consists of 12 items. It is a unidimensional measure of psychological distress. It is answered on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 4 (1 = Never and 4 = Always). The score was used to generate a total score ranging from 0 to 36.

    Time frame: Baseline 1 week before treatment, Mid-treatment 5 weeks from baseline, Post-treatment 9 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up, 3-months follow-up, and 6-months follow-up

  4. Change in stress with six time points data.

    A single item was used: Stress refers to a person's situation when they feel tense, restless, nervous, or anxious, or are unable to sleep at night because their mind is constantly preoccupied with work-related issues. Please indicate the extent to which you currently feel this type of stress. It has five possible responses on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5 (being 1 nothing and 5 a lot)

    Time frame: Baseline 1 week before treatment, Mid-treatment 5 weeks from baseline, Post-treatment 9 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up, 3-months follow-up, and 6-months follow-up

  5. Change in Affective Job Satisfaction with six time points data.

    The Brief Index of Affective Job Satisfaction (BIAJS)-Spanish version (BIAJS) consists of 7 items. It is an overall measure of affective job satisfaction. It measures satisfaction in five facets: promotion, co-workers, work itself, supervision and salary. It is answered on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5 (1 = Strongly disagree and 5 = Strongly agree). The score was used to generate a total score ranging from 7 to 35.

    Time frame: Baseline 1 week before treatment, Mid-treatment 5 weeks from baseline, Post-treatment 9 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up, 3-months follow-up, and 6-months follow-up

  6. Change in Need for Recovery with six time points data.

    The Need for Recovery (NFR) Scale consists of 9 items. It facilitates the understanding of the factors that can lead to sustainable working and employability. It is answered on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5 (1 = Never and 5 = Always). The score was used to generate a total score ranging from 1 to 100.Our research team will carry the validation of the Spanish version of NFR.

    Time frame: Baseline 1 week before treatment, Mid-treatment 5 weeks from baseline, Post-treatment 9 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up, 3-months follow-up, and 6-months follow-up

  7. Change in Individual Work Performance with six time points data.

    The Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ)-Brief Spanish version (IWPQ) has 18 items. It measures the three main dimensions of job performance: task performance, contextual performance, and counterproductive work behavior. It is answered on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5 (1 = Never or Seldom and 5 = Always or Often). The score was used to generate a total score ranging from 18 to 90.

    Time frame: Baseline 1 week before treatment, Mid-treatment 5 weeks from baseline, Post-treatment 9 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up, 3-months follow-up, and 6-months follow-up

  8. Change in Positive and Negative Affect with six time points data.

    The PANAS Scales of Positive and Negative Affect (PANAS) - Spanish version has 20 items. It is the most widely used scale of affectivity. It has two dominant dimensions, positive affect (10 items) and negative affect (10 items) It is answered on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5 (1 = Very slightly or Not at all and 5 = Extremely). The score was used to generate a total score ranging from 20 to 100.

    Time frame: Baseline 1 week before treatment, Mid-treatment 5 weeks from baseline, Post-treatment 9 weeks from baseline, 1-month follow-up, 3-months follow-up, and 6-months follow-up

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Fatigue (single-item measure from the Single-Item Fatigue Measure)

    Single-Item on fatigue level:" Indicate what level of fatigue you felt today". The response is rcorded on a 5-point Likert scale varying from "not at all" to "very much".

    Time frame: 4 days per week during the 8-week interventions

  2. Change in Psychological distancing (item n. 3 from the Recovery Experience Questionnaire).

    Single-Item on Psychological distancing level: "After work, I have been able to "disconnect". The response is recorded on a 5-point Likert scale varying from "not at all" to "very much".

    Time frame: 4 days per week during the 8-week interventions

  3. Change in Sleep (item n. 6 from the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index).

    Single-Item on Sleep: "How did you sleep last night?". The responses are articulated on a Likert-type scale from 1 to 5 (1 = very bad and 5 = very good)

    Time frame: 4 days per week during the 8-week interventions

  4. Change in Work stress (single-item measure from the Single-item Measure of Stress Symptoms).

    Single-Item on work stress: "Indicate the extent to which you have felt stressed, tense, nervous, or anxious today". The response is recorded on a 5-point Likert scale varying from "not at all" to "very much".

    Time frame: 4 days per week during the 8-week interventions

  5. Change in Mindfulness (item n. 3 from the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire).

    Single-Item on attention: "Today it has been difficult for me to be attentive to what required my attention at all times". The response is recorded on a 5-point Likert scale varying from "not at all" to "very much".

    Time frame: 4 days per week during the 8-week interventions

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Raquel Ruiz Iñiguez
    Madrid, 28009, Spain
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Start is estimated for Mar 2023; primary completion for Jun 2023, 3 months later.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Sep 21, 2022
First posted
Sep 27, 2022
StartEst.
Mar 2023
Primary completionEst.
Jun 2023
CompletionEst.
Dec 2023
Last update
Feb 24, 2023
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 24, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05557266
Lead sponsor
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
Collaborators
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain
Responsible party
Miguel Ángel Santed Germán (PhD, Clinical Psychologist and Professor, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 27, 2022
Start date
Mar 2023 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jun 2023 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 2023 (estimated)
Last update
Feb 24, 2023

Study contacts

Miguel A Santed, PhD
principal investigator · UNED

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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