MBSR Research

Running head: MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Portfolio Jesiah [Jess] Collective University of Southern California SOWK 562: Danielle L. Fettes, Ph.D. 1 MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 2 Executive Summary The focus of this research portfolio, which evolved over the course of the semester, was to find solutions for lowering the stress levels of employees working within computer-based, service-oriented organizations, or, specifically, employees holding behind-the-scenes computerprogramming or administrative positions. While researching for options, an interest formed for me regarding whether taking a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course was an effective approach for simultaneously improving employee wellness while lowering burnout rates for these service professionals. Little did I know then, as Part 1 of the Portfolio will describe, that a wealth of research has already been done on MBSR in workplace settings, generally with favorable results. MBSR Description With roots in Theravada Buddhism, MBSR is an eight-week course with weekly classes and a daylong retreat. With mindfulness at the core of the teaching, instructors guide participants through awareness principles, lead a gentle yoga practice, and require hour-long daily “take-home” meditation homework all while encouraging group sharing and exploration. Proven positive effects of participation in the course include reduced anxiety levels, increased patience in stressful situations, improved interactions within interpersonal relationships, gained coping mechanisms for managing stress, and a calmer demeanor. Expanding Research Interest As a secondary interest of this study, I was curious to find out which personality-type of people were attending the MBSR courses and which were gaining the most benefit from it. With this information I could perhaps gauge if certain personality types were correlated to better outcomes with MBSR and if others were better suited to a different stress-reducing treatment MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 3 altogether. As measured by the Myers-Briggs assessment, personality type was added to the list of variables in Part 2 of the Portfolio to test the working theory that personality type can be used to help match the best stress-reducing intervention to the participant. Alternative Stress-Reduction Treatments Since the original MBSR course was created, variations of the course have come about that are tailored to meet the needs of professionals in service industries, primarily individuals in health care or clergy. One variation called MBSR low-dose (MBSR-ld) is of specific interest as it incorporates methods tailored to computer-based workplaces. This treatment is a, two-week shortened, six-week course design which eliminates the all-day retreat, shortens the daily “takehome” homework, and includes yoga teachings done from a seated position, all meant as a better fit for incorporation within the computer-based working professional’s schedule. Part 3 of the Portfolio creates a research design that consists of three groups: 1) a control group 2) a group receiving MBSR-ld treatment and 3) a group receiving a combination of weekly boxing classes and a standing desk. The results of this study would show: 1) if and how personality type factors into treatment effectiveness and also 2) how effective various treatments, given within computer-based workplace settings, are at lowering burnout rates—with the overall hope of improving organizational productivity and boosting employee wellness. MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 4 Updated Assignments Summary Starting with Part 1, nearly all minor contextual and grammatical changes were made. A citation was added referencing the information within the introduction, allowing for full acknowledgement of sources. Multiple text edits throughout the first summary were incorporated to ease confusion noted in the comments. Lastly, most importantly, the suggestion to refine the population was taken to heart with the refined question appearing in Part 2. The main challenge in Part 2 was the understanding of moderating and mediating variables. Upon meeting with the instructor to clarity these definitions, the mediating variables of household size and workplace population were properly changed to control variables. Additionally a discussion of the self-report for religion was added to fulfill the final requirement of non-known scale implications. Within this section, the question is based on the effects of MBSR on one group only—with time as the independent variable. After considering how this single group would be exposed to threats to internal validity and would limit outcomes to a single treatment, multiple groups were established for Part 3—changing the independent variable, only considered within this final section, to treatment type. This study has always focused on incorporating MBSR into the foundation of the research design, yet the specific question and target population became refined only through additional writings and suggestions. In the beginning the question went from being a very broad interest in witnessing the effects of MBSR in any workplace environment, to then only being interested in a not-for-profit workplace, to then focusing on computer-based, service-oriented workplaces. This population specificity is noted in more detail throughout the amended sections, within the introduction and the sample section’s first paragraph, of Part 3. A considerable change to the research design was updated here which incorporated a third organization, allowing each of the MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO three interventions to be randomly assigned and controlling for diffusion effects. Changes from purposive to availability sampling were made here also as were additions to the discussion of threats to internal validity not ruled out by design. 5 MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 6 Part 1 of 3 Identification of a Research Cluster Helping professions are seeing growing demands for practitioners at the same time that those practitioners are experiencing higher than ever burnout rates. In working to assist vulnerable populations, helping professionals often become wrought with emotional and physical stresses that cause them to leave the profession earlier than expected, in effect becoming vulnerable populations themselves. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is one assistance approach to preserving the health and well-being of helping professionals. The 8-week mindfulness course, or course variation, was created by Jon Kabat-Zinn and, having been scientifically-proven to calm stress-responses in individuals, can be sought out by employers seeking to increase the effectiveness of employees in high-stress work environments (Center for Mindfulness, 2015). Research on the effectiveness of MBSR in the workplace fits the Behavior, Health, and Society research cluster as it impacts behavioral health and well-being of vulnerable populations. Literature Search Research into the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction has been ongoing for a few decades, but it is only within the past ten years that electronic imaging has been able to compliment the psychological assessments commonly used within empirical studies. The summaries below present research from both perspectives and in multiple disciplinary settings. Klatt, M., Buckworth, J., Malarkey, W. (2009). Effects of low-dose mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR-ld) on working adults. Health Education & Behavior, 36(3), 601-614. DOI: 10.1177/1090198108317627. MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 7 This empirical study examines the stress reduction effects of a “low-dose” mindfulnessbased stress reduction program on working adults. A typical mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention is an 8-week program involving weekly 2.5-hour group sessions, daily personal meditation practice of 45-60 minutes, and one seven hour retreat. The altered “low-dose” mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR-ld) intervention is a six-week program involving a one-hour weekly session, daily personal meditation practice of 20 minutes, and sitting yoga designed for workplace convenience. Forty-eight participants, found from a "stress reduction research" promotion, were randomized in a control (20 participants) and intervention group (22 participants) with six participants who dropped out or did not have all their data. Measurements were acquired through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, a Likert-type Perceived Stress Scale, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, and salivary cortisol tests. The study purports that the MBSR-ld six-week intervention is a lower-cost and less workplace intrusive alternative to traditional MBSR while still reducing individual stress and improving sleep quality. Chaskalson, M. (2011). The mindful workplace [electronic resource]:developing resilient individuals and resonant organization with MBSR. Wiley-Blackwell, Malden, MA. In chapter four of this book, researchers in Madison, Wisconsin measure the brain activity of Tibetan Monks while they meditate. The study shows that gamma wave activity is exceptionally high, higher than ever measured, and that mental training can impact perception and problem-solving abilities. Specifically, while meditating the left prefrontal cortex (associated with happiness) became more active and essentially overpowered the right prefrontal cortex (associated with unhappiness) adding to research that "happiness set-points" can be altered. MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 8 In partnership with the renowned Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Clinic founder Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., researchers offered MBSR courses to employees of a Madison, WI biotech firm, Promega, with a purportedly high-pressure business work environment. Testimonials confirm less irritability in interpersonal relationships at home and in the workplace, which matched with brain scans showing increased prefrontal cortex activity, an indicator of improved happiness level. Immune system improvements were also monitored by comparing the antibodies created when two groups of employees, one of meditators and one of non-meditators, were given flu jabs. The meditator group showed significantly more antibodies, establishing a general trend that overall wellness increases when individuals dedicate themselves to MBSR. McGreevey, S. (2011, January 21). Eight weeks to a better brain. Harvard Gazette. Retrieved from http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/01/eight-weeks-to-a-better-brain/ Researchers affiliated with Harvard have documented changes in the gray-matter of the brain after individuals participate in a MBSR course. Density of gray-matter in the hippocampus increased and decreased in the amygdala in an empirical study including a meditation group and a non-meditating control group. A note should be made that there was no change in the structure of the insula, which is associated with self-awareness, but that perhaps extended meditation would alter this structure as well. Due to the positive gray-matter shifting results of the study, mindfulness neuroscientist Amishi Jha notes the strong implications for MBSR to be a beneficial wellness aid in combatting psychological distress from challenges such as PTSD. MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 9 Goodman, M., Schorling, J.. (2012). A mindfulness course decreases burnout and improves wellbeing among healthcare providers. Int’l J Psychiatry in Medicine, 43(2), 119-128. http://dx.doi.org/10.2190/PM.43.2.b. This empirical study from the University of Virginia School of Medicine assessed the effectiveness of multiple eight week Mindfulness for Healthcare Providers courses given to 93 healthcare workers over a period of six years. The researchers found that the courses significantly improved the well-being of the practitioners and decreased burnout measurements as seen by results from the SF-12v2, “a 12-item questionnaire measuring self-perceived physical and mental health,” and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Within the gamut of healthcare workers participating in the study, significant reference to an increased stress load on physicians was noted in the article, as was a significant statistical improvement in the physicians emotional health as seen by the results of the Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization scores. Davis, B. (2010). Preventing clergy burnout: Assessing the value of a mindfulness-based intervention as part of a holistic clergy wellness program. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This dissertation does an amazing job at presenting, at-length, the concept of burnout, its history, various models and measurement tactics, and wellness approaches before even addressing links to mindfulness meditation. A comprehensive introduction to MBSR is then expressed regarding the specifics of incorporating a “blend of sitting and walking meditation, didactic presentations, gentle Hatha yoga, body scans, and group discussions” along with crediting Theravada Buddhism and Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, with MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 10 involvement in, respectively, the origins of the concept of mindfulness and bringing mindfulness techniques to the US nearly thirty years ago (p. 26). Participants of this empirical study were all active in the clergy organizations within the Philadelphia area and researchers had a difficult time finding the desired 30 participants dedicated to the entire length of the study. Ethical considerations of coercion and confidentiality were noted here that were not regarded so highly in other studies. Highlighted positive effects were on self-efficacy and emotional exhaustion and moderate changes were noted in regards to personal accomplishment, anxiety, and depression. Graphical representation of data from seven participants thoroughly depicted pre-test, post-test, and 10-month post-test assessments. Overall, the study authors found that MBSR may not be the most effective approach to those experiencing extremely high stress, but when used during periods of moderate stress level with continued practice that noticeable benefits surfaced. Research Question The inspiration for these articles was prompted by the question: Is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) an effective approach for enhancing employee well-being? MBSR empirical studies worldwide bring together interdisciplinary researchers working towards the goal of increasing peace consciousness and expanding our ability to heal ourselves and each other. This research and the intervention itself are linked to collaborative efforts meant to affect change at a personal level while integrating wellness approaches at an institutional level, offering endless opportunities to enhance behavior health knowledge and services. Given the proven effectiveness of MBSR on lessening emotional strain on stressed employees, adding MBSR as an annual company benefit could revolutionize workplace productivity. MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 11 Part 2 of 3 Identification of Variables The purpose of this research is to gain insight into answering the question: Is the eightweek altered low dose version of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR-ld) course an effective approach for enhancing well-being for not-for-profit employees in computer-based positions? For the sake of this study, individual well-being will be defined as a combination of personal, social, and spiritual factors, and variables measuring these factors were chosen to encompass this multi-faceted definition of well-being. The independent variable for this study is time, with values recorded for one group of participants before and after the MBSR-ld course. Dependent variables are burnout and spiritual engagement with moderating variables of personality type and safety within an individual’s neighborhood. The control variables are household size and workplace population with demographic variables of age, ethnicity, gender, and religion. The moderating, control, and demographic variables are meant to provide the researchers with additional insight into potential correlations between MBSR-ld participants and wellness as well as environmental factors that may be contributing to individual stress level. Variable Summary Table Variable Example Values Operational Definition Level of Measurement Personality Type Moderating Variable ENTJ, ENTP, INTJ, INTP, ENFJ, ENFP, INFJ, INFP, ESTJ, ESTP, ISTJ, ISTP, ESFJ, ESFP, ISFJ, ISFP Myers-Briggs Personality Test Nominal Categorical Safety within Neighborhood Moderating Variable very safe, safe, unsafe, very unsafe Perceived Safety Measure scores Ordinal Time Independent Variable pre-MBSR, post-MBSR Nominal Dichotomous MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO Variable Example Values 12 Operational Definition Level of Measurement Burnout Dependent Variable Scale Scores Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey Interval Spiritual Intelligence Dependent Variable Scale Scores Spiritual Meaning Scale Interval Household Size & Daily Workplace Interaction Population Control Variable Number of People Self-Report Nominal Categorical Age Age at last birthday Demographic Variable Self-Report Nominal Categorical Ethnicity Caucasian, Hispanic, Demographic Variable Asian-American, AfricanAmerican, NativeAmerican, Other Self-Report Nominal Categorical Gender Female, Male, Transgender Self-Report Demographic Variable Nominal Categorical Religion Christian, Buddhist, Demographic Variable Hindu, Jewish, Atheist, Agnostic, Other Nominal Categorical Self-Report Measurement of Variables In seeking a measure that assessed past and current spiritual engagement and intelligence, the first fitting scale found was the Psycho-Matrix Spirituality Inventory (PSI). The PSI is an 80-item, each item on a four-point scale, paper questionnaire rating seven factors including divinity, mindfulness, extrasensory perception, community, intellectuality, trauma, and childhood spirituality. The majority of the information on the PSI, though, was from a single study in which the questionnaire was given to 130 nurses over seven provinces in China examining their spiritual intelligence and discussing the effects of growing up in a communistic MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 13 society on spirituality (Yang, Mao, 2007). Also, there is no reliability and validity data on the PSI, so this scale did not provide enough data for the purpose of this paper. It was noted here due to its usage in a non-Caucasian, non-Christian setting and due to its relevant seven rating factors. Spiritual Meaning Scale A less involved spirituality scale called the Spiritual Meaning Scale (SMS) has 14 items ranging on a 5-point Likert scale from I totally agree to I totally disagree. Mascaro, Rosen, and Morey (2004) explain that the scale assesses “a single construct related to individuals’ perceiving themselves as participants in the purpose of some transcendent Life Force and deriving meaning from such participation” (Section 8.1). This paper questionnaire was given to 465 undergraduate students in Texas who were primarily Christian Caucasians, which suggests that it could have limitations for non-Christian, non-Caucasian populations. Researchers creating the SMS were interested in creating a spiritual meaning scale to compliment personal meaning and implicit meaning scales which, all three in combination, drive the Big Five personality factors. Personal meaning involves “the construct of positive life regard” and is measured by the life regard index (LRI) (Mascaro, Rosen, Morey, 2004, Section 2, Paragraph 1). Implicit meaning refers to the inherent implication by an individual when using the term “meaning” and, according to the Personal Meaning Profile (PMP) creator Wong, includes seven factors: achievement, relationship, religion, self-transcendence, self-acceptance, intimacy, and fair treatment (Mascaro, Rosen, Morey, 2004, Section 4). Reliability and Validity The SMS started as an 83-point item questionnaire in which most of the items were created through a face-validity approach that reasonably linked spiritual meaning as that in MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 14 which an individual finds purpose or drive. After the sample population rated the items, items that correlated well with personal and implicit meaning remained, and items that were significantly correlated to social desirability were removed. At this point, the researchers called upon spirituality-related psychology experts, clinical psychology graduate students, and analytical philosophy professors to rate the items in relation to the above defined spiritual meaning using content validity, and the total items on the questionnaire eventually dropped to 14 items. The validity, or accuracy, or the measurement was shown over the course of multiple consolidation sessions involving face, content, and concurrent criterion-related forms. SMS final PMP correlation was .67 and LRI correlation was .49, exhibiting convergent validity characteristics. Regarding reliability, or consistency over time, a coefficient alpha of .89 was produced in the final version of the SMS with a detailed table of the factor loading per question given in the researchers article, yet the approach to the testing is unclear. Non-Known Scale Implications The data for the demographic variable of religion is collected via the non-known scale of self-report. Using a non-known measurement instead of qualitative analysis involves subjective interpretation and, for this variable, does not consider changes to religious affiliation over the participant’s lifetime. Due to ease, people may choose only their primary affiliation which does not help researchers thoroughly interpret connection between full religious affiliation and effectiveness of the intervention. Though this reporting approach does include an “other” category, it does not do a good job of accounting for the myriad of multi-affiliation options which may be a better representation of actual affiliation. Perhaps a “multiple affiliations” category could be added to account for this. MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 15 Part 3 of 3 Introduction The research question for this analysis is as follows: In order to decrease burnout rates and improve wellness for employees who frequently work in front of a computer within service organizations which treatment is more effective, a low dose Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course (XA) or an alternative treatment involving the combination of, both in office, a replacement standing desk & weekly boxing courses (XB)? The explanations below are meant to offer insight into one approach for sampling this computer-based, service-industry-oriented population and pairing a research design that could be used to address the question above. Sampling As the intention of this study is not to generalize results, the sampling technique chosen was nonprobability availability. The organizations desired for study participation are Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity of St. Paul, MN, Yestermorrow Design/Build School of Warren, VT, and Data Recognition Corporation of Plymouth, MN. All three of these organizations have employees who are typically college-educated, complain of overwork and minimal pay, commute to their positions, and assist vulnerable populations in getting their housing and educational needs met by doing the needed behind-the-scenes computer programming or administrative work. As the author of this paper has worked with all three organizations and has forged strong connections with employees—pending organizational approval—word-of-mouth and internal email invitations along with on-site posted flyers would be utilized to approach participants. Minimal effort besides a single conversation and two rounds of emailing would be employed to recruit participants,—the hope being that only self-motivated persons would participate. Given MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 16 the focused nature of this nonprobability sample, the effects on external validity for results of the study are not favorable, though similar organizations could choose to personalize a treatment based on their insights drawn from within the results of this study. Given the relationship between the author and each organization’s employees, an inherent bias towards over-representation may exist between employees closer to the author. Those under-represented may include employees not familiar with the author, her work, or her background with the organization. Regarding ethical considerations, coercion may come into play if the employees feel pressured by either their relationship to the author or their expectations of participation from the organization. Written consent along with full transparency regarding the confidentiality of individual participant information and study results would be mandatory. Research Design The design chosen to carry out this research initially (with no alternative MBSR-ld treatment) was Quasi-Experimental Non-Equivalent Comparison Group. Design notation for this study is listed below, including pre-test, post-test, and 6-months post-test measurements. O1 XA O2 O3 O1 O2 O3 Over the course of multiple interactions and research, the challenge of truly finding two comparison groups within this context —as reported by Rubin and Babbie—as well as a seeing a strong similarity to previous research that has been conducted turned the author off from this design (2013). While initially valuing the option of non-random assignment, valuing limited threats to internal validity became a higher priority, and eventually Experimental Alternative Treatment with Pretest design was chosen within the context of the research question presented within the introduction. In this design, the three organizations would randomly be assigned a MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 17 treatment and the control group organization would be offered the MBSR treatment upon completion of the study. The Alternative Treatment design is illustrated symbolically below. R O1 XA O2 O3 R O1 XB O2 O3 R O1 O2 O3 The benefits of this choice include random assignment of individuals to a treatment (helping rule out all design-related threats to internal validity when combined with the multiple group condition), the gaining of data of an additional treatment option, and the potential for gaining multiple treatment solutions for these service organizations to provide to staff if favorable results from the research were found. Having first chosen against having a control group, the author was influenced by Rubin and Babbie’s discussion mentioning the inability to rule out threats to validity without a control group and ultimately chose to add a control group to the design (2013). Additional internal validity threats, not ruled out by design, include experimental group attrition and resentful demoralization. The hope is that the distance between the groups would account for compensatory rivalry and diffusion, and that resentful demoralization and compensatory equalization would both be minimized by offering the control group access to either treatment at the study conclusion. Logistics, Incentives, and Financial Concerns Realistically implementing this study has a number of challenges to be overcome. Fortunately, both the organizations have spacious facilities with both large and small meeting rooms which could be quickly reworked to be used for group discussions, individual meditation, or group boxing lessons. The challenge of each organization allowing individuals to use MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 18 company time for these treatments combined with providing employees with fitting incentives to participate in the treatment may be high, yet intersect-able. If the benefit to organizational productivity given the spike in employee well-being were great enough, perhaps companies would be willing to offer health insurance kickbacks for bi-annual course participation. The financial challenge of implementing this study within both of these facilities is of greatest concern. There is a need both to pay trainers for either of the 8-week treatment types as well as to purchase equipment for the courses—including meditation CDs, boxing equipment, and standing desks. There is a possibility to find government grants to fund this sort of research, though the specificity of the organizations chosen may limit the ability to find fitting grants. Stakeholders within MBSR programs, fitness centers, or ergonomics research may also be avenues through which to find funding for this sort of study. Conclusion Nonprobability sampling combined with an Experimental Alternative Treatment with Pretest research design were explored above as an approach to answering the question: In order to decrease burnout rates and improve wellness for employees who frequently work in front of a computer within service organizations which treatment is more effective, a low dose Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course (XA) or an alternative treatment involving the combination of, both in office, a replacement standing desk & weekly boxing courses (XB)? Though this non-generalizable study may face financing and participation issues, the benefits to both the individuals and the organizations involved could be note-able. Given that two treatment groups, along with a control group, are required for the study, discussions amongst groups and individuals after the treatments could lead to an improved study or implementation of courses within the organizations that could have members of one group exploring an alternative MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 19 treatment that may be in-the-end a better fit for their personality type. Ultimately, it could be the discussion itself that leads employees to greater organizational connectivity and wellness along with and beyond the skills learned through participation within the research study. MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 20 Applied Descriptive and Inferential Statistics The discussion below pertains to how the specific variables of household size, ethnicity, burnout, and spiritual intelligence help define this MBSR research study and its participants. Descriptive Statistics Ethnicity is a demographic variable that leads in descriptive statistics to the use of mode as a unit of measurement of central tendency. For the control variable of household size the mean would be used to qualitatively describe this sample. Standard deviation data would be used to present statistical variation for household size while frequencies or percentages would depict the relevant ethnicity statistics for the population measured. The data from both of these variables combined with the change in scale score results per population and a comparison of scale score results between populations could help to define who is most effected and most interested in a particular intervention. Specifically how an individual’s upbringing and environment lends towards or away from each intervention or how it influences the amount of life stress or joy. Inferential Statistics Measurements for burnout and spiritual intelligence, both dependent variables, are recorded by gathering scale scores from participants based on their answers on the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Spiritual Meaning Scale, respectively. As both of these variables are interval-level and given that the independent variable of treatment is categorical (control, MBSR-ld, boxing), the inferential statistical test used to measure causality between the variables is the One-Way ANOVA test. Statistical significance between burnout scores and treatment type would reflect the direct positive impact from the given treatment on lowering emotional strain and improving regulatory health, while significance between spiritual intelligence scores and treatment type would mean MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 21 an increased sensitivity and connection to strength from an energetic source and/or increased peacefulness derived from attention to mindfulness. Conversely, lack of statistical significance would represent a failure for the treatment type to strongly influence emotional health or spiritual/mindful connectivity. Non-significant findings for spiritual intelligence, with yet significant findings on burnout specifically from MBSR-ld treatment could mean that an individual’s religious upbringing was already strong or unimportant. There is potential for participants to demonstrate cognitive rigidness, or little interest, in learning the spiritual context, so MBSR could help the individual gain voice to his/her emotional challenges while having only a limited effect on spiritual attunement. Researchers could offer the study annually for multiple years as a long-term teaching modality in order to see how continued attendance affects the degree of interest in or understanding of spiritual intelligence. MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 22 Reflective Statement What resonates most with me about creating this purposed research study is how far reaching and applicable study results can be in terms of finding continued funding, for organizations that might otherwise be forced to close. Similarly, to the all the examples that we have done throughout the semester to strengthen our understanding of the material, being able to create a semester-long study based on a topic important to each student seems an ideal way not only to reinforce the material but also to influence the direction of each student’s future practice. The ability to slowly create, adapt, recreate, and readapt the research question, along with the research design, over the course of multiple months appears to reflect the similar process that we would go through in practice. Doing this with feedback throughout the course felt like a sort of mini-(theory-based)-apprenticeship that expanded our knowledge at a progressive pace, yet in our own context. I very much appreciated the integration of this assignment parallel to the coursework of the class. Another main point that came up for me is the perpetual existence of need that arises from the nature of society and interest in how to affect change. Firstly to say that each action or question in the study caused another question to emerge, and then another, and then yet another. In relation to social work and social work research this is reframed by saying that, until utopia emerges, there will always be a place for social work and for research to help social work gain added credibility as a social science based in both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Hopefully, as initiated by the historic work of early social workers, the ability to improve people’s lives emanates from within the realm of social work and social work research in tandem, indefinitely. MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION, PORTFOLIO 23 References Center for Mindfulness. (2015). MBSR 8-week: How it works. Retrieved from: http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/stress-reduction/mbsr-8-week/ Mascaro, N., Rosen, D. & Morey, L. (2004). The development, construct validity, and clinical utility of the spiritual meaning scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 37(4), 845860. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2003.12.011 Rubin, A. & Babbie, E. (2013). Essential research methods for social work (3rd ed). Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning: Belmont, CA. Yang, K. & Mao, X. (2007). A study of nurses’ spiritual intelligence: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 44(6), 999-1010. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.03.004