Does mindfulness-based wellbeing training increase self-reported and perceived health among teachers?

BACKGROUND: Teachers are reporting increased stress, burnout, and workload at schools. Previous studies have shown that mindfulness-based (MF-based) programs are potential interventions to decrease stress and improve wellbeing among teachers. The aim of this Healthy Learning Mind -teacher study was to investigate the effects of a MF-based wellbeing training on several dimensions of wellbeing among teachers in Finnish comprehensive schools. METHODS: We developed a MF-based wellbeing training tailored for teachers (8 weeks) and organized the training by three teaching methods: 1) contact teaching; 2) online teaching and 3) combination of both contact and online teaching. Outcome variables are: wellbeing (The Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale), work ability (Work Ability Index) and perceived stress (Single Item Measure of Stress). A total of 50 teachers answered to both baseline and follow-up questionnaires. Additionally perceived health benefits were reported. RESULTS: MF-based wellbeing training showed beneficial effects on teachers’ perceived health: better ability to calm down, relax, regulate emotions and to manage difficult situations as well as better tools for stress management in classrooms. Additionally teachers reported that their own mindfulness practice had a beneficial effect on students’ calmness, attention and kindness as well as on interaction with students. Analysed results on outcome variables will be presented at the conference. CONCLUSIONS: First results suggest that MF-based wellbeing training has several perceived health benefits among teachers in strengthening teachers’ ability to regulate emotions and decrease stress and to adopt tools for solving challenging situations with students. Furthermore, teachers reported that their own mindfulness practice had a favorable effect on students’ wellbeing and social-emotional competence. Enhancing teachers’ wellbeing is beneficial for both teachers themselves and for students. KEY MESSAGES: • MF-based wellbeing training can be seen as a potential intervention to decrease perceived stress and increase perceived health benefits among teachers and to support teachers in their profession. • More research is needed to understand how teachers’ own mindfulness practice affects wellbeing among students and interaction in classrooms.