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Quinones, Cristina
(2020).
Abstract
Background
The amount of time people spend working has increased at a great pace. This is supported by technology advancements which allow many of us to work "anywhere, anytime". Within this context, psychological detachment, a recovery process needed to avoid chronic stress, has become a challenge. Technology and internet also plays a large part in our leisure. Interestingly, some people struggle to integrate internet adaptively in their lives, to the point of experiencing loss of control what has been called “Compulsive Internet Use” (CIU). Although CIU only affects a minority, a much larger proportion of adults report some of the early signs of CIU. This can be problematic if used as a long-term strategy to cope with daily stress. Early CIU signs include cognitive salience and relationship conflict. The latter is also commonly reported in long-hour workers. Given the comorbidity of overwork and CIU, relationship conflict is highly prevalent in those individuals. Compulsive behaviours are executed on “automatic pilot”. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) help individuals to relate more consciously with their environment. Thus, they could be used by individuals to develop adaptive relationship with work and technology, thereby removing this source of relationship conflict. Importantly, the length of effective MBI makes removing this source of relationship conflict. Importantly, the length of effective MBI makes them a less viable option for the target population. Hence, brief and effective interventions at the early CIU symptom stages are required. When examining the impact of the intervention on relationship quality, it is important that those who are directly affected by it are included. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the impact of a brief mindfulness intervention in relation to the classic gradual-muscle-relaxation technique (both 10 minute a day for two weeks) on early signs of CIU and romantic relationship quality both from the perspective of the participants and their partners.
Methods
Randomized controlled trial (RCT) with pre-post measurements was used. This included validated instruments and open-ended questions, particularly to assess relationship quality (these were also sent to their partners). Participants had to work more than 45 hours per week, met the high engagement profile in the CIU scale, lived with their romantic partners,lacked mindfulness experience. After screening, participants were allocated to a mindfulness-group (n = 343), gradual-relaxation (n = 301), or a wait- list control group (n =350).
Results and discussion
Both interventions were equally effective to reduce distress, but the mindfulness intervention was more effective reducing CIU. In relation to open-ended questions, both interventions received similar positive feedback about (1) participants and their partners expectation of continuing practice, (2) and the expectation of sustained long-term effects (80-86%). Around 50% of the participants perceived their practice had a positive effect in their relationship quality. Interestingly, only the partners from the mindfulness group participants found a significant effect of the intervention in their relationship. Given the large sample sizes of this RCT, these results are promising, although follow-up studies are needed. Considering health and romantic relationship hazards of the “always-on-culture”, the effectiveness of easy-to fit-in daily life health practices is a positive development.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
