Bringing awareness to the workplace. Investigating the impact of an online mindfulness intervention on work situation awareness : a randomised wait-list control trial.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of a 4-week online mindfulness-based intervention on work situation awareness and other measures of occupational health. A randomised wait-list control design was used, with three and six month follow up. Participants were UK-based employees of a large international insurance company (N=163). Participants who completed the intervention (n=18) reported a significantly greater positive change, comparing before and after the intervention, in levels of work situation awareness, mindful awareness, sleep quality, anxiety, fatigue (acute and chronic) and work-related rumination, when compared to the change reported by wait-list control participants (n=65). The groups were combined for follow up (3 months, n=22; 6 months, n=26) due to attrition. The effects held at three months for affective rumination and problem solving pondering (measures of work-related rumination), and at six months for work situation awareness and anxiety. Mindful awareness was not significantly higher at three months but levels were significantly higher at six months than baseline. Participants who had dropped out were contacted by email and their responses analysed using content analysis. Reasons given included time limitations and a stressful work environment. This study provides support for online mindfulness interventions in increasing occupational wellbeing when completed. The high rates of attrition highlighted areas for future research around who is best suited to these types of interventions to best target resources