Recovery Strategies Based on Mindfulness and Physical Exercise on Levels of Stress and Inmunoglobulin A (ERME-IgA)

Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Mental Health Wellness

Treatments: Behavioral: Physical exercise; Behavioral: Mindfulness-based intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05771649

PID2019-110490RB-I00 (3)

Details and patient eligibility

About

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

Full description

Recovery from fatigue and daily stress involves mentally disconnecting from the journal. To achieve this disconnection (or psychological detachment), research has shown that engaging in a variety of interesting and motivating activities for individuals after the day 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, academic performance and health variables (self-report means and biological measure of IgA salivary levels). A non-randomized controlled trial (participant chooses to take of three groups proposed) with pretest, posttest and two follow-ups at 1 and 3 months. It would be developed among the Guardia Civil (Spanish military police) non-commissioned officers and officers academies (N ≥ 150). An MBI (focused attention meditations), an aerobic PE program (running with mental association strategies) 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) academic performance; 5) positive and negative affect; 7) daily states of fatigue, stress, psychological distancing, mindfulness, and sleep; 8) IgA levels in saliva. The intervention program is structured for four weeks, 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, and will have an important scientific and technical impact. The importance of the topic addressed in terms of health and academic performance is associated with important contributions in terms of knowledge transfer to the educational field and society in general.

Enrollment: 150 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age from 18 to 65 years.

Exclusion criteria

• Currently practicing any type of meditation regularly.
• To have a physical or mental illness that prevents mindfulness practice.
• To take medication that interferes with salivary inmunoglobulin A (SIgA).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

150 participants in 3 patient groups

Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI)

Experimental group

Description:

A 4-week mindfulness-based intervention comprised of focused attention meditations. From 15 to 30 minutes of practice per session, four times/week through audio guides.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mindfulness-based intervention

Physical exercise (PE)

Active Comparator group

Description:

A 4-week physical exercise intervention comprised of running with mental association strategies. From 15 to 30 minutes of practice per session, three times/week through workout audio guides.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Physical exercise

Treatment as Usual (TAU)

No Intervention group

Description:

The participants will continue their daily activity and obligations in the academy as usual.