A Study to assess the effectiveness of Mindfulness Meditation to reduce the level of stress among working women in selected Urban Area at Rajkot

 

Mr. Lalji Vaghela¹, Mr. Vishnu Hari², Mr. Jeenath Justin Doss. K.³

¹II Year M.Sc. Nursing, MHN, Shri Anand Institute of Nursing, Opp. Ghanteshwar Park, B/h Sainik Society, Jamnagar Road, Rajkot-360006.

²M.Sc Nursing, MHN, Shri Anand Institute of Nursing, Opp. Ghanteshwar Park, B/h Sainik Society,

Jamnagar Road, Rajkot-360006.

³Principal, M.Sc Nursing, MSN

 

ABSTRACT:

The reduction of level of stress has an important role in enabling effectiveness of mindfulness as an independent intervention. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation on reduce level of stress among working women. The research design adopted was Pre-experimental. The conceptual framework for this study was Wiendenbach theory. The study has conducted in Atul Pvt. Lmt.  Urban area, Rajkot. The sample size was 40 as an intervention the mindfulness meditation was administered for 14 days each sample. The collected data were analyzed by using inferential statistical method. T- test was used to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation on reduce level of stress among working women. The obtained t-test value was 8.07. This showed highly significant at 0.05 levels. Hence their findings of the study revealed that the mindfulness meditation helps in reducing the level of stress among working women with selected demographic variables.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Stress generally refers to two things: the psychological perception of pressure, on the one hand, and the body's response to it, on the other, which involves multiple systems, from metabolism to muscles to memory¹. Through hormonal signaling, the perception of danger sets off an automatic response system, known as the fight-or-flight response, that prepares all animals to meet a challenge or flee from it.

 

A Stressful event  whether an external phenomenon like the sudden appearance of a snake on your path or an internal event like fear of losing your job when the boss yells at you triggers a cascade of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, that surge through the body, speeding heartbeat and the circulation of blood, mobilizing fat and sugar for fast energy, focusing attention, preparing muscles for action, and more. It generally takes some time for the body to calm down after the stress response has been triggered².

 

NEED OF THE STUDY:

In a recent global survey of 1,000 corporations across 15 countries, commissioned by The Regus Group it was found that the levels of workplace stress have raised over the last two years. The survey found 6 in 10 workers in significant global economies experienced increased workplace stress³.

 

75% of adults reported experiencing moderate to high levels of stress in the past month and nearly half reported that their stress has increased in the 2016/17 year⁴.

 

The survey found in 2010 that China (86%) had the highest rise in workplace stress. While those workers in larger companies worldwide (over 1000 workers and more) were nearly twice as likely to suffer from stress. These heightened stress levels were costing world economies billions of dollars in lost productivity and health related problems. One of the most important aspects to reducing the stress levels of employees was in assisting them to develop a healthy work-life balance⁵.

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1)    To assess the level of stress among working women in selected urban area.

2)    To assess the effectiveness of meditation in reduce the stress level among working women in selected urban area.

3)    To find out the association between levels of stress among working women with their selected sociodemographic variables.

 

HYPOTHESIS:

H₁    The mean post test score of levels of stress will be lesser than mean pretest score.

H₂       There will be a significant association between level stresses among working women with their selected sociodemographic variables.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

RESEARCH DESIGN:

A Pre-experimental study, one group pre-test post-test research design.

 

VARIABLES:

Independent Variable:

Mindfulness meditation and Demographic variables.

 

Dependent Variable: level of stress.

 

SETTING OF THE STUDY:  

The study was conducted in Atul Private Limited. Urban area of Rajkot.

 

POPULATION:  

Working women at selected Atul Private Limited Urban area of Rajkot.

 

SAMPLING SIZE:  

The sample size of the study was 40 Working women.

 

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE:  

Non probability purposive sampling technique: Samples were based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.

 

Data analysis:

The responses were analyzed through descriptive statistics (Frequency, percentage) and inferential statistics (t-test and Chi-Square).

 

Demographic Findings: -

1.     The majority of 30(75%) sample’s age is between 20-40years.

2.     The majority of 30 (75%) the sample’s educational status is studied graduate or above.

3.     The majority of 25(62.5%) the sample’s have less than 1year of work.

4.     The majority of 22(55%) samples are having 15000-25000 income.

5.     The majority of 24(60%) the sample’s have 5-7 hours job duration.

6.     The majority of 27(67.5%) samples are having average perceived environment at work.

7.     The majority of 30(75 %) samples are having nil meditation.

8.     The majority of 28(70%) samples are having less than 1 year duration of meditation practice.

9.     The majority of 25(62.5%) samples are married.

 

The study shows that the calculated chi square value is greater than tabulated value at the level of 0.05 for selected demographic variables job duration, rest all the calculated chi square value is less than tabulated value at the level of 0.05 for selected demographic variables, which shows there is no significant association between effectiveness of meditation and selected demographic variables

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

With regards to effectiveness of mindfulness meditation on reduce levels of stress among working women, the obtained t-test for the levels of stress value was 8.07. That was significant at p<0.05 level.

 

CONCLUSION:

In this study the main conclusion says that most of the working women in pretest are high perceived stress, moderate stress. After provision of mindfulness meditation there was significantly reduces the levels of stress in post-test at day 14 among working women and as well found sound mental health and well-being which will improve the quality of life which includes the stability in physiological, psychological, sexual, vocational and lifestyles aspects.

 

REFERENCES:

1.      Kiecolt-Glaser, J. and Glaser, R.(online) Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15738954

2.      Krantz, D.S., Whittaker, K.S. and Sheps, D.S “Psychosocial risk factors for coronary artery disease: Pathophysiologic mechanisms.” In Heart and Mind: Evolution of Cardiac Psychology. Washington, DC: APA. 2011: 91–113

3.      Davidson, K.W., Mostofsky, E. and Whang, W. “Don't worry, by happy: Positive affect and reduced 10-year incident coronary heart disease: The Canadian Nova Scotia Health Survey.” European Heart Journal, 2010, 3:1065-1070

4.      Hamilton S, Fagot BI chronic stress and coping styles: A comparison of male and female undergraduates. J PersSocPsychol 1988, 55: 819-823.

5.      Muntazir M, Neharshi S, Manju P (2014) A comparative study of mental health among working women and house wives. Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing 2014(5) 1398-1400.

 

 

 

Received on 12.08.2019          Modified on 01.09.2019

Accepted on 20.09.2019     © A&V Publications all right reserved