Project Title: The Healthy Teacher Study
Research Team: Robert Roeser, Kimberly Schonert-Reichl, , Kimberly Thomson, and Eva Oberle
Participants: Elementary and High School Teachers
Location: Vancouver School District
Description: The Healthy Teacher Study evaluated a mindfulness-based stress reduction program for educators (Stress Management and Stress Reduction Training; SMART-in Education). We investigated the impact of attending the 12-week program on attendees’ biomarkers of stress, cognitive abilities, and self-reported measures of well-being and coping with students. We randomly assigned teachers to either attend the program or stay on a waitlist. Pretest, post-test, and 3-month follow up measures were assessed.
Findings: Roeser, R., Schonert-Reichl, K. A., Jha, A., Wilensky, R., Oberle, E., Thomson, K., Taylor, C., & Harrison, J. (2013). Mindfulness training and reductions in teacher stress and burnout: Results from two randomized, waitlist- control field trials. Journal of Educational Psychology. doi: 10.1037/a0032093
Funding: This study was made possible through funding by the Fetzer Institute, and the Mind and Life Institute