Exploring Meditation's Impact on Stress Among U.S
. Workers
School
Southern New Hampshire University**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
PSY 222
Subject
Psychology
Date
Dec 11, 2024
Pages
7
Uploaded by MagistrateStrawSquid39
1Project OneDestiny RaittoSouthern New Hampshire UniversityPSY 222: Research Methods in PsychologyJesus CastroDecember 9, 2024
2Project OneTopic:The relationship between meditation and stress in U.S. workers1.Determine the plan’s background introduction. Include the following details:The title of the planA summary of three relevant empirical and scholarly research studies for the plan. Each summary should be about 150–250 words.The title of this research plan is: The relationship between meditation and stress in U.S. workersArt of Living Partners with Children’s National Hospital to Provide Free Access to its One-of-a-kind Breathing Meditation for US Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic. (2020, March 30). PR NewswireThe goal of this study was to learn about breathing meditation as a coping mechanism for relieving stress during COVID-19. It goes on to thank healthcare workers for their services and also states rest is important to keep the mind healthy and focused. As stated, meditation will benefit and discusses the excess of energy felt along with more enthusiasm. Furthermore, an online platform was created for healthcare workers to learn more about the variety of ways of meditative breathing as well as other meditation methods. More than 70 studies were conducted for the purpose of practicing different breathing techniques. Research has showed that it does help to decrease anxiety, reduces cortisol and can even aid in better sleep. Skylar, M., Ehrhart, M. G., & Aarons, G. A. (2021). COVID-related work changes, burnout,and turnover intentions in mental health providers: A moderated mediation analysis. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 44(3), 219–228. The goal of this study was to focus on mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study goes on to talk about the changes that occurred due to the burn out from those working in the mental health field. It affected those in the mental health field so bad to the point there was a higher turnover rate. This study also focused on the effects of changes in the workplace and how job and personal lives were affected as a result. In a Midwestern state, they had workers complete surveys to compile evidence regarding mental health services. It was determined that moderate meditation whether there was an indirect meaning between the two relationships of stress and meditation during work hours. Oncethe studies were completed, it was determined that employers should limit jobs and team related options.
3Barnett, R. C., Gareis, K. C., & Brennan, R. T. (1999). Fit as a mediator of the relationship between work hours and burnout. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 4(4), 307–317The goal for this study was to determine the relationship from the amount of time working to much of the sample size of 141 married physicians. This study compared the relationship between a physician's work and personal, family lives to prove that physicians with preferred hours had better relationships than physicians with long working hours with no prioritized time with family. There was correlation found between physicians working longer hours and feelings of disconnection and disengagement with their families. Moreover, the study founda relationship between the number of hours worked and burnout within the sample of married physicians to those who had a preferred and set schedule. 2.Develop a clear and specific research questionthat is relevant to the three research studies you chose. Your response should be about 25 words.Can the stress associate with the COVID-19 pandemic increase meditation and breathingexercises for workers within the United States?3.Develop a clear, specific, and testable hypothesisthat corresponds to your research question. Your response should be about 25 words. Consider the following in your hypothesis: Your hypothesis should be informed by the claim you are making.How can workers in the U.S. adapt to the practices taught to them to decrease stress levels by implementing more meditation practices within the workplaces in the United States?4.Describe aspects of samplingthat you would want to consider while acquiring participants for your study. Your response should be about 100 words.When it comes to sampling, especially in the sense of meditation techniques, I would first prioritize a questionnaire with a series of questions regarding feelings of stress within their workplace. This focus would be on hospitals, mental health facilities, as well as first responders such as firefighters, EMS, police officers, and military personnel. Based on the answers provided I would select a sample of about 1000 individuals placedin different test groups to complete the study in an attempt to prove the decrease in
4stress through different sources of meditation to find the best meditation technique. Myfirst group will be my control group with a basic therapy session. The second group will receive deep breathing exercises. The third group will receive a stimulation of stress andasked to listen to their favorite music while the last group will be asked to do yoga or similar anerobic exercise. Upon completion, a devised plan can be made for implementation in the work setting to help alleviate the stress felt at work to have happier employees who can work more efficiently. 5.Select a design(experimental or correlational) for your proposed study that aligns with the research question and hypothesis. Your response should be about 100 words. Include the following details:Explain why you selected this design.Identify conceptual variables that align with the research question and hypothesis.I would say this study is primarily experimental as it tests multiple ways to overcome stress in the workplace with no singular proven coping mechanism for stress since there is not a one size fits all approach. I picked experimental since there will be varying age ranges, different career fields, and different meditation practices implemented. Keeping in mind the hypothesis and correlation between stress and meditation for workers within the US. If the experimental groups were separated by different mediation practices, the information provided could help employers better understand how different meditation practices can relieve stress during the pandemic in work settings. The conceptual factors that align with the research question and hypothesis are stress within the workplace and meditation practices. 6.Select a measureto operationally define each of your conceptual variables. Your response should be about 100 words per variable. Include the following details:As you select a measure, also state whether it uses natural/laboratory observations, surveys, objective/physiological measures, interviews, etc.For each variable you measure, identify its scale of measurement.Stress in the workplace was my first conceptual variable from the topic of research. One way to figure out how stress is created in work settings is through observation of workers. As the observation is done, notes can be taken and determine what could be changed to better the work environment. Another way to determine stress in the workplace is to interview the workers and ask a questionnaire about how they feel about their job and any stress felt. An anonymous way to make workers feel more comfortable and prevent societal stress and pressure is through sending a survey to get a better judge of the current emotional and mental state of their employees. My second
5conceptual factor is meditation. Interviewing employees can be a way to judge what their preferred meditation method is. A survey can also be provided to ask straight forward questions on how employees meditate and offer a question at the end to include anything that could be beneficial to add onto the meditation idea. These measures can be considered as surveys, objective/physiological measures, and interviews. Additionally, by conducting these surveys could be a bridge to the introduction to the testing of the research hypothesis and question through testing separate meditation techniques to find which method works the most efficiently. These concepts could be considered natural/laboratory observations, surveys, as well as objective/physiological measures. 7.Describe your type of analysisand the pvalue required to support your hypothesis. Yourresponse should be about 50 words.The focus of this study was to determine the relationship between stress and meditation for US workers. I would collect the data from the study and determine whichmeditation technique would work best for stress reduction in the workplace. The p-value for this study would reflect a less than or equal to 0.05 to determine the effectiveness of the study and analysis conducted through sampling. 8.Develop the plan’s discussioncontent. Your response should be about 250–350 words. Include the following details:what you would expect to be the main finding of your studyhow you would know if your hypothesis was supportedthe potential implications of the findingsa possible limitation of your proposed study directions for future researchThe primary findings of this study will determine the correlation between stress and meditation for workers in the United States. If determining the causation for the stress and testing different meditation methods, different forms and proven meditative methods can be offered to relieve stress in the workplace. If the data grows lowers, it will show the meditation offered is helping and proving to be a good source of stress management. However, if the data increases, then it is indicative that the meditation methods provided in the test groups are not working to reduce stress or be an effective method for stress management. The p-value should be less than or equal to 0.05 consistently concluding the hypothesis was supported throughout the study when measuring the relationship between stress and meditation in the United States. This study could potentially help workers increase their frequency and efficiency in meditation when they notice an elevation in stress levels or stress related symptoms
6such as increased heart rate, anxiety, picking, elevated blood pressures, or sweating of the palms. A possible limitation to the study would be not all methods or thoughts regarding the relief of stress would be utilized and create a higher percentage of error. Based on the sampling and analysis conducted, it could be said that as meditation techniques are implemented employers can lessen the usage of smaller breaks for meditation throughout the workday to allow employees to decompress and relax from stressful situations. If other studies were conducted on the relationship between stress and meditation in the US workplaces in the future, it could look at specific meditation techniques and test to see which technique works the most efficient during the onset of stress. Another future research design possibility would be different ways of collecting data through interviews, surveys, and through physical study of different meditation methods through an observation/laboratory measure.
7ReferencesArt of Living Partners with Children’s National Hospital to Provide Free Access to its One-of-a-kind Breathing Meditation for US Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic. (2020, March 30). PR Newswire.Barnett, R. C., Gareis, K. C., & Brennan, R. T. (1999). Fit as a mediator of the relationship between work hours and burnout. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 4(4), 307–317. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1037/1076-8998.4.4.307Skylar, M., Ehrhart, M. G., & Aarons, G. A. (2021). COVID-related work changes, burnout, and turnover intentions in mental health providers: A moderated mediation analysis. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 44(3), 219–228. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1037/prj0000480