Is less more? A randomized comparison of home practice time in a mind-body program

• Published in: Behaviour research and therapy 2018-12, Vol.111, p.52-56
• Main Authors: Greenberg, Jonathan, Braun, Tosca D., Schneider, Marissa L., Finkelstein-Fox, Lucy, Conboy, Lisa A., Schifano, Elizabeth D., Park, Crystal, Lazar, Sara W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Compliance; Dosage; Female; Flexibility; Group practice; Home practice; Humans; Male; Mind and body; Mind body relationship; Mind-body; Mind-Body Therapies - methods; Patient Compliance; Personal health; Prescribing; Self Care - methods; Stress; Stress management; Stress management training; Stress, Psychological - therapy; Time Factors; Yoga; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0005-7967; 1873-622X; 1873-622X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2018.10.003

Home practice is a major component of mind-body programs, yet little is known about how to optimize the amount of prescribed home practice in order to achieve an effective “dose” of practice while minimizing participant burden. This study tested how varying the amount of home practice in a mind-body program impacts compliance and stress reduction, and whether prescribing a flexible home practice schedule increases compliance. Eighty-four stressed participants undergoing a 12-week yoga program were randomized to low, medium, and high home practice conditions. The medium condition allowed participants the flexibility to choose one of two amounts of practice each day. The low practice group exhibited the highest compliance (91%) compared to the medium and low practice groups (∼60%), but exhibited the lowest total practice time, and did not significantly reduce stress. The high practice group was the only group to achieve significant stress-reduction, which was maintained 12 weeks post program. Prescribing a flexible home practice schedule did not increase compliance. Results suggest that prescribing higher practice doses may maximize practice time and symptom reduction despite lower compliance. •Only high doses of prescribed home practice yielded significant stress reduction.•These remained significant 12 weeks following completion of the mind-body program.•Such benefits occurred despite lower levels of home practice compliance in this group.•Prescribing a flexible home practice schedule did not increase compliance.•Overall mind-body interventions may benefit from prescribing high home practice doses.