Stress Free UCR: the Impact of 8 Weeks of Headspace on Stress in a Heterogeneous University Employee Cohort

High levels of psychosocial work‐related stress have major implications for both the employee and the employer. Epidemiological studies consistently demonstrate associations between high work stress and worse self‐reported mental and physical health, including depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Job strain, a combination of high demands and low control, is a common model used to define psychosocial stress at work. Job strain is associated with worse mental and physical health, including anxiety and depressive disorders and increased blood pressure. Past studies show the value in mindfulness applications. For example, participants who completed 25 or more meditation sessions over 8 weeks also had significantly lower self‐measured systolic blood pressure over the course of one day compared to the control condition participants at the follow‐up time point. This trial suggests that almost daily brief mindfulness meditations delivered via smartphone can improve outcomes related to workplace stress and well‐being, with potentially lasting effects. In this study, investigators hope to determine if a stress‐reduction mindfulness application is more effective than a waitlist control condition in employees who are experiencing mild to moderate levels of stress in various health and productivity‐related outcomes.