Leadership Studies Ed.D. Dissertations

The Impact of Training and a Mindfulness Phone App Among Academic Advisors

Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Department

Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Paul Johnson (Advisor)

Second Advisor

Cynthia Bertelsen (Other)

Third Advisor

Robert Gotfried (Committee Member)

Fourth Advisor

Kristina LaVenia (Committee Member)

Fifth Advisor

Matthew Lavery (Committee Member)

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of a mindfulness professional training session (MindfulnessPD) on usage of the 10% Happier phone app among academic advisors and the app's influence on levels of mindfulness and perceived stress. To date, there is a lack of research regarding the effectiveness of in-person mindfulness training on increasing usage of a mindfulness app for improving mindfulness and lowering perceived stress among academic advisors. A quantitative design was used to sample academic advisors (n = 33) at a large, state university in the Midwest. Paired samples t-tests indicated increased levels of mindfulness on the Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS) and decreased levels of perceived stress on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) among app users. The in-person MindfulnessPD training appeared to increase app usage and as a result, the 10% Happier app users reported increased mindfulness and decrease perceived stress. Finally, 85% of participants agreed that practicing mindfulness was beneficial to their self-care and wellbeing.

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