A randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of an online mindfulness intervention.

INTERVENTION: Intervention name: Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance Intervention duration: 4 weeks (with an additional 4 week follow‐up period). Time commitment per week: The estimated time to complete weekly tasks is three hours per week and the participant can spread this time across each week at their own discretion. Mode of delivery: Online via the FutureLearn digital education platform (futurelearn.com) Intervention description: The mindfulness‐based intervention involved in this trial is a 4‐week online intervention called Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance. This program is readily accessible and endorsed as a stress reduction program for tertiary education students and employees at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. The training approach in this program adheres to the formal defining features of mindfulness‐based interventions in that it involves weekly meditation practices using the body, breath, and sound, as well as cognitive strategies trained in activities that center around focused‐attention meditation and acceptance of thoughts. Each week the program will deliver a series of topics that require participants to watch videos, perform formal and informal mindfulness meditation practices, and engage in reflection and discussion tasks related to the course content. Each week of the four‐week program focuses on a different topic: (1) Week 1: Introducing Mindfulness; (2) Week 2: Mindfulness and mindfulness stress reduction; (3) Week 3: Improving work and study performance; and (4) Week 4: Mindfulness as a way of life. There are also homework tasks related to the weekly topics. These include identifying unhelpful cognitive patterns in real time as participants go about their usual daily li CONDITION: Mental Health ‐ Other mental health disorders Psychological stress; ; Psychological stress PRIMARY OUTCOME: Affective and hedonistic dimensions of wellbeing measured by the World Health Organization ‐ Five Wellbeing Index (WHO‐5)[Week 4 (i.e., after completion of the four week intervention). ] Psychological stress (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS‐10).[Week 4 (i.e., after completion of the four week intervention). ] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Affective and hedonistic dimensions of wellbeing measured by the World Health Organization ‐ Five Wellbeing Index (WHO‐5)[The average of Week 4 and Week 8.] Affective and hedonistic dimensions of wellbeing measured by the World Health Organization ‐ Five Wellbeing Index (WHO‐5)[Week 8 (i.e., after the 4 week intervention and an additional 4 week follow‐up).] Psychological stress (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS‐10).[The average of Week 4 and Week 8.] Psychological stress (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS‐10).[Week 8 (i.e., after the 4 week intervention and an additional 4 week follow‐up).] INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Have English as a first language or satisfy university‐level English requirements (i.e., 80 on TOEFL or 6.5 on IELTS). 2. Consent to being randomly allocated to a treatment or no‐treatment group and understand that it is essential to remain part of that group for the duration of the study even if it is not their preferred outcome. 3. Consent to being contacted by researchers via email and mobile phone for the duration of the study. 5. Consent to name and email address being shared with the ISN Psychology Accounts department for the purpose of providing remuneration. 6. Currently reside in Australia or New Zealand and will remain in your country for at least 10 weeks after the 4. Consent to all responses provided in this study being stripped of identifying information and deposited in a scientific public database (osf.io) for independent verification of results and for use of these data in future research for the betterment of human knowledge.