Proposing a workplace meditation model based on evidence based programs: An integrative review

Workplace Meditation (WM) practices, focusing on ameliorating occupational-stress, are becoming increasingly popular in organizations. Nevertheless, scientific research is scarce and effective evidence-based programs (EBP) to replicate are hard to find. In this sense, the purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review on WM EBP and to propose a model for interventions using meditation in the workplace, based on the tested programs found in the databases explored and which have proven their efficacy. A systematic integrative review on WM EBP for occupational-stress was conducted using Ebsco, Scielo and Google Scholar databases. Journal articles and book chapters from all countries, years and languages (those understood by the authors) with WM EBP were included. Articles without EBP, books, thesis, repeated, paid, journalistic articles and conference papers were excluded. After applying specific criteria to the 86 publications retrieved, 9 were included for the review. From the 9 publications, 11 programs were extracted, analysed and included in the review. The programs covered before and after measures (4); randomized controlled trial (6); and mixed methods (1). EBP included meditation in workplace; audio self-guided meditations; vipassana meditation; yoga; mindfulness-based stress reduction program; flow meditation and other mixed techniques. Findings report improvements in sleep quality and duration, self-perception work engagement and resilience, and quality of life, as well as reduction of stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and respiration rates. Regardless of the types of programs, Workplace Meditation practices have proven their efficacy in several constructs related with occupational stress. We conclude by presenting an integrated WM model, easy to replicate by organizations focused on intervening in occupational stress.

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion