MBSRNCT07751926
Workplace Stress Among School Teachers: Minfulness Based Stress Reduction Intervention
A study testing MBSR in people with MBSR and Workplace Stress, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an eightweek Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in reducing workplace stress among secondary school teachers from public and private schools in the Malakand Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- MBSR, Workplace Stress
- What is being tested?
- MBSR
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 86 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 10 Jul 2025to 10 Jul 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Secondary school teachers employed in public or private schools in District Swat, Pakistan.
- Currently employed as a full-time teacher with at least one year of teaching experience.
- Reporting moderate to high workplace stress, as determined by the Workplace Stress Scale (WSS) during screening.
- Able to read and understand Urdu or English.
- Willing to participate in the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program.
- Able to attend weekly intervention sessions and complete home practice assignments.
- Willing to provide written informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Current diagnosis of a severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, or severe major depressive disorder) that may interfere with participation.
- Current participation in another psychological or stress-management intervention.
- Regular mindfulness, meditation, or yoga practice (defined as practicing at least once per week during the previous six months).
- Cognitive impairment or neurological disorder that would prevent completion of study assessments or participation in the intervention.
- Planned extended leave, retirement, or transfer from the school during the study period.
- Inability or unwillingness to attend the intervention sessions or complete the study assessments.
- Declines or withdraws informed consent at any stage of the study.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pakistan1 site
Riphah International University Malakand Campus
Swāt, KPK, 19000
About this study
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an eightweek Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in reducing workplace stress among secondary school teachers from public and private schools in the Malakand Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Eligible teachers experiencing moderate to high workplace stress will be randomly assigned to either an MBSR intervention group or a wait-list control group. Stress levels will be assessed before and after the intervention using the Workplace Stress Scale (WSS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The study also aims to compare stress levels between public and private school teachers and investigate gender differences in intervention outcomes. This description aligns with your synopsis objectives and design.
Read the detailed description
Workplace stress is one of the most significant occupational health challenges among school teachers and negatively affects psychological well-being, teaching effectiveness, and educational quality. Teachers frequently encounter excessive workload, administrative demands, classroom management difficulties, and work-life imbalance, making them particularly vulnerable to chronic stress. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, is an evidence-based intervention designed to cultivate present-moment awareness and non-judgmental acceptance through mindfulness meditation, body scanning, mindful yoga, and other mindfulness practices. Numerous studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing psychological stress and improving emotional well-being across diverse populations. This study will employ a two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial with pretest and posttest assessments. Eighty-six eligible secondary school teachers will be randomly allocated to either the experimental group receiving the standardized eight-week MBSR program or a wait-list control group receiving no intervention during the study period. The intervention consists of weekly 2.5-hour group sessions, a day-long retreat between Weeks 6 and 7, and daily home practice of 30-45 minutes. Outcome measures include workplace stress and perceived stress assessed before and immediately after the intervention. The study will also evaluate whether the effectiveness of MBSR differs by school sector (public versus private) and gender.
- Conditions
- MBSR, Workplace Stress
- Being tested
- MBSR
- Medical subject headings
- Occupational Stress
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MBSRBehavioural
Experimental Group Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Participants will receive the standardized eight-week MBSR program delivered in weekly 2.5-hour group sessions by trained instructors. The Experimental Group Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Participants will receive the standardized eight-week MBSR program delivered in weekly 2.5-hour group sessions by trained instructors. The intervention includes body scan meditation, sitting meditation, mindful yoga, breathing exercises, interpersonal mindfulness, a day-long mindfulness retreat, and daily home practice (30-45 minutes). Behavioral Intervention Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
________________________________________ Wait-list Control Group Participants assigned to the control group will continue their usual routine without receiving the intervention during the study period. They will be offered the MBSR program after completion of post-intervention assessments.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental A | Experimental | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Participants will receive the standardized eight-week MBSR program delivered in weekly 2.5-hour group sessions by trained instructors. The intervention includes body scan meditation, sitting meditation, mindful yoga, breathing exercises, interpersonal mindfulness, a day-long mindfulness retreat, and daily home practice (30-45 minutes). Behavioral Intervention Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Receives: Behavioral: MBSR |
| Control B | No intervention | Wait-list Control Group Participants assigned to the control group will continue their usual routine without receiving the intervention during the study period. They will be offered the MBSR program after completion of post-intervention assessments. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from Baseline in Workplace Stress Scale Scores at 8 Weeks
Workplace stress will be measured using the Workplace Stress Scale (WSS), an 8-item self-report questionnaire that assesses occupational stress experienced in the workplace. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Never) to 5 (Very Often). Total scores range from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater workplace stress. The primary outcome will be the change in total WSS score from baseline (Week 0) to post-intervention (Week 8).
Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change from Baseline in Perceived Stress Scale Scores at 8 Weeks
Perceived stress will be measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), a 10-item self-report questionnaire assessing the extent to which individuals perceive situations in their lives as stressful during the previous month. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (Never) to 4 (Very Often). Total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress. The secondary outcome will be the change in total PSS-10 score from baseline (Week 0) to post-intervention (Week 8).
Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Aug 2026
- Study start10 Jul 2025
- Primary completion10 Apr 2026
- Study completion10 Jul 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for MBSRStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- MBSR
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 86 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Mazhar Ali, Principal investigator, Riphah International University Malakand Campus
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07751926
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RIU-Ref-001-Mazhar Psychology
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 1 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Workplace Stress Among School Teachers: Minfulness Based Stress Reduction Intervention
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07751926
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RIU-Ref-001-Mazhar Psychology
- Conditions
- MBSR, Workplace Stress
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 86 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Jul 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an eightweek Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in reducing workplace stress among secondary school teachers from public and private schools in the Malakand Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Eligible teachers experiencing moderate to high workplace stress will be randomly assigned to either an MBSR intervention group or a wait-list control group. Stress levels will be assessed before and after the intervention using the Workplace Stress Scale (WSS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The study also aims to compare stress levels between public and private school teachers and investigate gender differences in intervention outcomes. This description aligns with your synopsis objectives and design.
Detailed description
Workplace stress is one of the most significant occupational health challenges among school teachers and negatively affects psychological well-being, teaching effectiveness, and educational quality. Teachers frequently encounter excessive workload, administrative demands, classroom management difficulties, and work-life imbalance, making them particularly vulnerable to chronic stress. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, is an evidence-based intervention designed to cultivate present-moment awareness and non-judgmental acceptance through mindfulness meditation, body scanning, mindful yoga, and other mindfulness practices. Numerous studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing psychological stress and improving emotional well-being across diverse populations. This study will employ a two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial with pretest and posttest assessments. Eighty-six eligible secondary school teachers will be randomly allocated to either the experimental group receiving the standardized eight-week MBSR program or a wait-list control group receiving no intervention during the study period. The intervention consists of weekly 2.5-hour group sessions, a day-long retreat between Weeks 6 and 7, and daily home practice of 30-45 minutes. Outcome measures include workplace stress and perceived stress assessed before and immediately after the intervention. The study will also evaluate whether the effectiveness of MBSR differs by school sector (public versus private) and gender.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- MBSR
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental A | Experimental | Behavioral: MBSRMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Participants will receive the standardized eight-week MBSR program delivered in weekly 2.5-hour group sessions by trained instructors. The intervention includes body scan meditation, sitting meditation, mindful yoga, breathing exercises, interpersonal mindfulness, a day-long mindfulness retreat, and daily home practice (30-45 minutes). Behavioral Intervention Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Control B | No intervention | –Wait-list Control Group Participants assigned to the control group will continue their usual routine without receiving the intervention during the study period. They will be offered the MBSR program after completion of post-intervention assessments. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Secondary school teachers employed in public or private schools in District Swat, Pakistan.
- Currently employed as a full-time teacher with at least one year of teaching experience.
- Reporting moderate to high workplace stress, as determined by the Workplace Stress Scale (WSS) during screening.
- Able to read and understand Urdu or English.
- Willing to participate in the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Current diagnosis of a severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, or severe major depressive disorder) that may interfere with participation.
- Current participation in another psychological or stress-management intervention.
- Regular mindfulness, meditation, or yoga practice (defined as practicing at least once per week during the previous six months).
- Cognitive impairment or neurological disorder that would prevent completion of study assessments or participation in the intervention.
- Planned extended leave, retirement, or transfer from the school during the study period.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| MBSRExperimental Group Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Participants will receive the standardized eight-week MBSR program delivered in weekly 2.5-hour group sessions by trained instructors. The Experimental Group Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Participants will receive the standardized eight-week MBSR program delivered in weekly 2.5-hour group sessions by trained instructors. The intervention includes body scan meditation, sitting meditation, mindful yoga, breathing exercises, interpersonal mindfulness, a day-long mindfulness retreat, and daily home practice (30-45 minutes). Behavioral Intervention Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) ________________________________________ Wait-list Control Group Participants assigned to the control group will continue their usual routine without receiving the intervention during the study period. They will be offered the MBSR program after completion of post-intervention assessments. | Behavioural | Experimental A |
Primary outcome
Change from Baseline in Workplace Stress Scale Scores at 8 Weeks
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)
Workplace stress will be measured using the Workplace Stress Scale (WSS), an 8-item self-report questionnaire that assesses occupational stress experienced in the workplace. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Never) to 5 (Very Often). Total scores range from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater workplace stress. The primary outcome will be the change in total WSS score from baseline (Week 0) to post-intervention (Week 8).
1 secondary outcome
Change from Baseline in Perceived Stress Scale Scores at 8 Weeks
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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MBSR, Young Adults
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Mazhar Ali principal investigator
Riphah International University Malakand Campus
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing MBSR in people with MBSR and Workplace Stress, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change from Baseline in Workplace Stress Scale Scores at 8 Weeks (time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Sep 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.