Using Mindfulness to Increase Staff Use of Antecedent Strategies

• Main Author: Bates, Alyssa
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2022
• Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Mental health; Occupational psychology; Organizational behavior
• ISBN: 9798371997357

Mindfulness-based interventions have been more widely utilized in the field of applied behavior analysis to treat symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, and overall poor psychological well-being in caregivers supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (DDs; Donnchadha, 2017; Garcia et al., 2021; Hartley et al., 2019). While progress has been demonstrated in this area, the lack of overt measures is a much-needed area of improvement and expansion. In an effort to address this consideration, the current study utilized a nonconcurrent multiple-baseline across participants design to assess the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on the overt behaviors of three Registered Behavior Technicians® and three clients diagnosed with DDs. Staff were trained in mindfulness using a treatment package comprised of a didactic training and 28 consecutive days of practical engagement. The results suggested that mindfulness can increase staff members’ use of antecedent strategies. Further, carryover effects were demonstrated in the reduction of the clients’ socially inappropriate behaviors. Indices of happiness minimally increased for two of the staff. The findings of this study show that mindfulness interventions that typically target covert events can be used as an antecedent strategy for staff to influence observable behaviors of both staff and clients. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed, and recommendations for future research are proposed.