To evaluate the efficacy of an online group mindfulness-based training program on alleviating perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among elementary school teachers during wartime.
Design
A two-arm, parallel-group, single-blind (analyst) randomized controlled trial conducted entirely on a secure virtual platform.
Settings and conduct
This is a two-arm, parallel-group, single-blind (analyst-blinded) randomized controlled trial conducted among primary school teachers in District 5 of the Department of Education in Tehran, Iran. Participants are recruited via electronic open calls. Following initial screening and baseline electronic data collection via the Porsline online survey platform, eligible teachers are randomly allocated (1:1 ratio using sequentially numbered opaque sealed envelopes) into either an intervention or a waitlist control group. The intervention group receives 8 weekly 75-minute online group mindfulness sessions via the Bale application platform. The control group receives no intervention during the study period. To minimize evaluation bias, the statistical data analyst remains strictly blinded to group allocation (labeled as Groups A and B).
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
36 primary school teachers from District 5, Tehran, with ≥3 years of tenure and mild-to-moderate DASS-21 baseline scores. Severe mental conditions or absence >20% serve as exclusion criteria.
Intervention groups
Intervention group receives 8 weekly 75-minute online MBSR sessions (body scan, mindful breathing, meditation). Control group receives no active training during the trial (waitlist control) and gets materials post-study.
Main outcome variables
Mean scores of stress, anxiety, and depression measured via the validated DASS-21 instrument at baseline and immediately post-intervention (week 8).
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
OGMT-T
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20260904070905N1
Registration date:2026-09-07, 1405/06/16
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-09-07, 1405/06/16
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-09-07, 1405/06/16
Registrant information
Name
Sharareh Zeighami mohammadi
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 26 3418 2570
Email address
zeighami20@yahoo.com
Recruitment status
recruiting
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-09-23, 1405/07/01
Expected recruitment end date
2026-12-21, 1405/09/30
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The Efficacy of Online Group Mindfulness Training on Reducing Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Teachers During Wartime
Public title
Impact of Virtual Mindfulness Practice on Mental Health and Stress Reduction in Teachers
Purpose
Prevention
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Employed as an elementary school teacher in District 5, Tehran
Minimum of 3 years teaching experience
Mild-to-moderate baseline scores on DASS-21 (stress, anxiety, or depression)
Access to a smartphone/computer and stable internet
No participation in psychotherapy or mindfulness training in the past 6 months
Signed electronic informed consent.
Exclusion criteria:
Severe acute psychiatric disorders or concurrent new pharmacological/psychological treatment
Absence in more than 20% of online sessions (>1 session)
Incomplete post-test questionnaire
Voluntary withdrawal from the study.
Age
From 22 years old to 60 years old
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
Outcome assessor
Data analyser
Sample size
Target sample size:
36
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
Due to the inherent nature of psychological/educational interventions, blinding of participants and the interventionist is not feasible; therefore, a single-blind design is employed. The outcome assessor and data analyst are kept completely blinded to group allocations throughout the trial. Data retrieved from the online survey platform (Porsline) are coded anonymously as Group A and Group B before statistical analysis to minimize assessment and analytical biases.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Single blinded
Blinding description
The outcome assessor and data analyst are blinded to group allocations (coded as Group A vs. Group B) throughout the trial and statistical analysis.
Research Ethics Committees of Islamic Azad University - Karaj Branch
Street address
Research Ethics Committee, Vice-Chancellor for Research, Amir-al-Momenin Campus, Moazzen Blvd, Rajaee Shahr, Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran (Postal Code: 3149968111)
City
karaj
Province
Alborz
Postal code
3149968111
Approval date
2026-07-25, 1405/05/03
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.K.REC.1405.060
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Psychological stress
ICD-10 code
Z73.3
ICD-10 code description
Stress, not elsewhere classified
2
Description of health condition studied
Anxiety
ICD-10 code
F41.9
ICD-10 code description
Anxiety disorder, unspecified
3
Description of health condition studied
Depression
ICD-10 code
F32.9
ICD-10 code description
Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Stress score
Timepoint
Before the intervention and immediately after the end of the intervention (week 8)
Method of measurement
Stress subscale of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale
2
Description
Anxiety score
Timepoint
Before the intervention and immediately after the end of the intervention (week 8)
Method of measurement
Anxiety subscale of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale
3
Description
Depression score
Timepoint
Before the intervention and immediately after the end of the intervention (week 8)
Method of measurement
Depression subscale of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: Participants in the intervention group receive an online group mindfulness training program based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) protocol. The course is conducted online via the Bale messenger platform in 8 weekly 90-minute sessions (one session per week for 8 weeks). The session topics include mindfulness of breathing and body scan, sitting meditation, gentle mindful movement/yoga, awareness of unpleasant thoughts and emotions, stress and anxiety coping techniques during wartime conditions, and daily home practices (20-30 minutes) supported by guided audio files.
Category
Prevention
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
District 5 Education Administration of Tehran
Full name of responsible person
فریده صافی
Street address
No. 2, Nastaran Alley, Shahid Ebrahimi St., Mohammad Ali Jenah Expressway, Sadeghiyeh Second Square
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1481713111
Phone
+98 21 4400 8000
Email
faridehsafi@yahoo.com
Web page address
https://tehranedu.ir
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
معاونت پژوهش و فناوری دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد کرج
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
No
Title of funding source
Personal funds of the researcher and Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Private
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Sharareh zeighami mohammadi
Position
Assistant professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Nursery
Street address
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Amir-al-Momenin Campus, Moazzen Blvd., Rajaee Shahr
City
karaj
Province
Alborz
Postal code
3149968111
Phone
+98 26 3418 2570
Email
zeighami20@yahoo.com
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Sharareh zeighami mohammadi
Position
Assistant professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Nursery
Street address
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Amir-al-Momenin Campus, Moazzen Blvd., Rajaee Shahr
City
karaj
Province
Alborz
Postal code
3149968111
Phone
+98 26 3418 2570
Email
zeighami20@yahoo.com
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Sharareh zeighami mohammadi
Position
Assistant professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Nursery
Street address
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Amir-al-Momenin Campus, Moazzen Blvd., Rajaee Shahr
City
karaj
Province
Alborz
Postal code
3149968111
Phone
+98 26 3418 2570
Email
zeighami20@yahoo.com
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Justification/reason for indecision/not sharing IPD
To protect participant confidentiality regarding mental health data (stress, anxiety, and depression) among teachers and in accordance with ethical standards, individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared publicly, as informed consent was not obtained for raw data sharing.
Study Protocol
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Title and more details about the data/document
Study protocol, statistical analysis plan (SAP), and the final clinical trial report.
When the data will become available and for how long
Available from the date of study completion until 5 years after the publication of the main results.
To whom data/document is available
Academic researchers and clinical experts.
Under which criteria data/document could be used
For scientific validation, meta-analysis, and further academic research related to mindfulness and mental health.
From where data/document is obtainable
The corresponding author (Dr. Sharareh Zeighami Mohammadi) via email.
What processes are involved for a request to access data/document
Researchers must submit a formal request via email including their institutional affiliation and a brief description of their research purpose. Requests will be reviewed for scientific relevance.
Comments
No individual participant raw data will be shared to ensure strict compliance with patient privacy and ethics.