The Selah Pilot Study of Spiritual, Mindfulness, and Stress Inoculation Practices on Stress-Related Outcomes Among United Methodist Clergy in the United States

• DOI: 10.1007/s10943-023-01848-x
• Publication Date: 2023-06-26T19:02:02Z
• Authors: Rae Jean Proescho...; David E. Eagle; Logan C. Tice; Jia Yao; Joshua A. Rash; Jessica Y. Choi; Beth Stringfield; Sofia M. Labrecque
• Keywords: Mindfulness-based stress reduction; Prayer; Stress Management

The job-demand-control-support model indicates that clergy are at high risk for chronic stress and adverse health outcomes. A multi-group pre-test-post-test design was used to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, range of outcome effect sizes four potentially stress-reducing interventions: inoculation training, mindfulness-based reduction (MBSR), Daily Examen, Centering Prayer. All United Methodist in North Carolina were eligible recruited via email attend their preferred intervention. Surveys 0, 3, 12 weeks assessed symptoms stress, anxiety, perceived reactivity. Heart rate variability (HRV) baseline using 24 h ambulatory heart monitoring data. subset participants completed in-depth interviews reported skill practice daily text messages. Standardized mean differences with 95% 75% confidence intervals calculated change observed each intervention from 3 post-baseline determine likely be a definitive trial. 71 participated an percentage engaging management practices ranged 47% (MBSR) 69% (Examen). Results suggest participation inoculation, or MBSR interventions could plausibly result improvement anxiety small-to-large sizes. Small on HRV plausible Prayer weeks. feasible acceptable, although had lower enrollment mixed results.