Evaluation of Mindfulness and Yoga in Basic Combat Training

Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Mood; Anxiety; Leadership; Depressive Symptoms; Cohesion, Social; Musculoskeletal Injury; Mindfulness; Military Operations; Emotion Regulation; Health, Subjective; Pain; Sleep; Stress; Yoga

Treatments: Behavioral: Mindfulness Based Attention Training (MBAT) and Yoga

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency; Other

Identifiers

NCT05550610

WRAIR #2815

Details and patient eligibility

About

The present study is a group randomized trial assessing the impact of mindfulness and yoga training on the health, performance, and well-being of soldiers in Basic Combat Training (BCT). Randomization occurred at the platoon level, and platoons received either a combined mindfulness and yoga regimen or training as usual.

Full description

This program evaluation assessed a training initiative developed and implemented by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. Four surveys were conducted with soldiers in all participating platoons over the course of BCT, and two additional surveys were administered with those soldiers in the mindfulness and yoga intervention condition. A follow-up survey was distributed to all participants 6-12 months after BCT. In addition, two surveys were conducted with BCT cadre and drill sergeants. Army data reflecting performance, attrition, and health were also obtained for analysis.

Enrollment: 1,896 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 17+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• U.S. Army soldiers participating in basic combat training from OCT - DEC 2020 at a U.S. Army installation in the southeastern United States.

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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1,896 participants in 2 patient groups

Mindfulness and Yoga

Experimental group

Description:

Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT) was delivered in 4, 2-hour sessions over 4 weeks. Yoga was delivered 6 days/week, 30 minutes per day.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mindfulness Based Attention Training (MBAT) and Yoga

Training as Usual

No Intervention group

Description:

Training as usual included standard exercises 30 minutes per day during warm-up (15 min) and cool-down (15 min) as part of Army physical readiness training.