Stress prevention and mindfulness : a psychoeducation and support group for teachers

A stress prevention and mindfulness (SPAM) group is described, which is a short-term (6-8 week) psychoeducation and support group for teachers. The SPAM group provided information on stress and its impact, utilized elements of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and emphasized group process and support. Four SPAM groups were implemented with teachers and their colleagues at three public schools in the Southwest. Evaluation was conducted with quantitative (pre- and post-measures of teacher vulnerability to stress, job satisfaction, and mindfulness) and qualitative (post-intervention interviews) elements using a quasi-experimental mixed methods design. Participants in the intervention group reported higher mindfulness scores than participants in the comparison group, and qualitative analyses were supportive of teachers’ satisfaction with the group. Implications and future research directions are discussed.