The Selah trial: A preference-based partially randomized waitlist control study of three stress management...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Chronic stress negatively impacts psychological and physiological well-being.
• Clergy are a population susceptible to high stress levels.
• Remote delivery of stress management interventions can overcome access barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate three remotely delivered stress management interventions for clergy.
• To compare mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), Daily Examen prayer, and Stress Proofing against a waitlist control.
• To account for participant preferences in intervention assignment.

Main Methods:

• A partially randomized, preference-based waitlist control trial was conducted with United Methodist clergy.
• Participants were assigned to MBSR, Daily Examen, Stress Proofing, or waitlist control.
• Outcomes included stress symptoms (Calgary Symptoms of Stress Inventory) and heart rate variability (HRV) measured at 12 and 24 weeks.

Main Results:

• MBSR and Stress Proofing significantly reduced stress symptoms at 12 weeks compared to the waitlist control.
• Daily Examen showed a significant reduction in stress symptoms at 24 weeks.
• MBSR intervention led to significant improvements in heart rate variability at 12 weeks.

Conclusions:

• Remotely delivered MBSR and Stress Proofing are effective brief interventions for reducing stress symptoms in clergy.
• MBSR also offers physiological benefits by improving heart rate variability.
• These interventions are sustainable and beneficial, particularly during periods of heightened stress like the COVID-19 pandemic.