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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Julia Eminger, BA, Student, Indiana University, 6337 Dusty Laurel Drive, Whitestown, IN 46075, (317) 769-3198, jeminger@indiana.edu

This research study uses a rapid elicitation method with forty working mothers to determine the psychosocial and environmental determinants that influence their meditation behavior. Currently, research has proven that meditation can reduce individuals' stress, anxiety, and depression. However, meditation literature mainly deals with the activities and outcomes of meditation interventions, not the determinants of meditation behavior.

Working mothers are a population that meditation research has not specifically addressed, even though their competing work and home demands can dramatically increase their stress levels. In order for meditation interventions to be adapted for working mothers, the determinants of working mothers practicing meditation need to be investigated.

A rapid elicitation survey is currently being collected from forty working mothers in Central Indiana. This survey provides both close-ended and open-ended questions regarding working mothers' intention to meditate regularly, three times each week for twenty minutes each session. The working mothers' barriers and benefits, beliefs about the consequences, and normative beliefs regarding meditating regularly are also explored.

The data gathered from this elicitation method will be used to determine the most salient consequences, referents, and circumstances that a comprehensive stress reduction intervention should address when helping working mothers reduce their stress levels through meditation.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to

• Describe the steps to take when designing a rapid elicitation survey to understand the determinants of health behavior;
• Discuss working mothers’ most salient consequences, referents, and circumstances for practicing meditation;
• Apply data from a rapid elicitation survey to public health intervention design

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation