Exploring the effects of holistic training targeting perceived stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion on Early Childhood Educators’ (ECEs’) performance patterns and well-being

Introduction : Investigating psychosocial characteristics and dynamic relationships between perceived stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion in ECEs will provide clarity for interprofessional collaboration between OT practitioners and ECEs for targeted areas of intervention. Objective : Explore the effectiveness of mindfulness-based skill building on self-compassion and perspective taking in ECEs. Participants : Participants selected through volunteer and criterion sampling. 8 total participants [Inclusion criteria: >18 y/o, held an ECE teaching position, fluent in English]. Methods : Mixed-method, experimental approach. Intervention included 3 workshops: values identification, mindfulness/sensory kits, and time management. Workshops were held once a month for three months. The location in which this research took place was a daycare center in rural, central Virginia. Quantitative data taken using a pre/post Qualtrics survey of 3 assessments (PSS, FFMQ, SCS). SPSS computed the data into measures of central tendency. Qualitative data collected through de-identified self-reflection journals. Results : PRE and POST: PSS [central tendency measures = moderate cut-off score, outliers = high, low]; SCS [central tendency measures = moderate cut-off score]; FFMQ [central tendency measures = 15.43, outliers = 12.36 and 13.25]. Perceived stress showed an overall increase from pre to post. Levels of self-compassion did not change from pre to post. 50% of participants increased and 50% decreased their FFMQ score. Self-reflection journals reflected subjective statements categorized into emotion, acquired knowledge, and intention language. Conclusions & Relevance : There was not enough evidence gathered to support a statistically significant change after initiation of the holistic training intervention in specific outcome domains of mindfulness, self-compassion, and perceived stress. Future research should intervene at the application level over a longer period of time in order to create a larger impact on behavior change.