The Effect of a Combined Mindfulness and Yoga Intervention on Soldier Mental Health in Basic Combat Training: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.
Thomas H Nassif, Ian A Gutierrez, Carl D Smith, Amishi P Jha, Amy B Adler
Depression and anxiety January 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1155/2023/6869543
Summary
A mindfulness and yoga intervention significantly improved mental health among U.S. Army soldiers during Basic Combat Training. Out of 1,896 soldiers, those engaging in this program experienced a 12.6% reduction in positive depression screens compared to a 7.2% decline in the control group. Additionally, sleep problems decreased by 1.4% in the intervention group while increasing by 2.0% in the control group. These findings suggest that integrating mindfulness and yoga can enhance mental well-being in high-stress environments like military training.
Abstract
Depression, anxiety, and sleep problems are prevalent in high-stress occupations including military service. While effective therapies are available, scalable preventive mental health care interventions are needed. This study examined the impact of a combined mindfulness and yoga intervention on the mental health of soldiers in Basic Combat Training (BCT). U.S. Army soldiers (N = 1,896) were randomized by platoon to an intervention or training-as-usual condition. Soldiers in the intervention condition completed Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT), engaged in daily 15 min mindfulness practice, and participated in 30 minutes of hatha yoga 6 days per week. Surveys were administered at baseline (T1, prior to training), week 4 of BCT (T2), week 6 (T3), and week 9 (T4). A significant time-by-condition interaction predicting positive screens for depression found that screens decreased at a faster rate from T1 to T4 in the intervention condition (-12.6%) compared to training-as-usual (-7.2%) (b = -0.18, SE = 0.07, p = 0.028). While positive anxiety screens decreased over time across conditions, the time-by-condition interaction found no significant differences in the rate of these decreases by condition (b = 0.09, SE = 0.09, p = 0.273). A significant time-by-condition interaction predicting positive screens for sleep problems found that sleep problems decreased in the intervention condition (-1.4%) but increased in training-as-usual (2.0%) (b = -0.68, SE = 0.16, p = 0.027). The mindfulness and yoga intervention was associated with a greater reduction in positive screens for depression and sleep problems among soldiers during high-stress training. Limitations include reliance on self-report and the inability to disaggregate the effects of mindfulness versus yoga. Mindfulness and yoga may enable personnel in high-stress occupations to sustain their mental health even in the context of significant psychological demands. This trial is registered with NCT05550610.