Mindfulness program aims to ease stress for head start teachers
NCT ID NCT05791825
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested an 8-week mindfulness program called CHIME for Early Head Start and Head Start educators. The goal was to see if it improves their emotional well-being, reduces stress, and boosts self-compassion. Researchers also looked at whether the program helps children's social and emotional skills. Over 500 educators participated, with some taking the program right away and others waiting.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- mindfulness and compassion training program (CHIME)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a simple, low-cost way to reduce stress and improve mental health for early childhood educators.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed behavioral study, not a drug trial. Results may not apply to all educators or settings, and benefits may be modest.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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571 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2023
- Finished
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Oct 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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Children (under 18), adults (18 to 64) and older adults (65 and over)
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: There are 3 types of participants included in this study: Early Head Start/Head Start education staff who work at one of the partner sites; parents of children attending EHS or HS; children attending EHS or HS and enrolled in the classroom of a participating EHS/HS educator. Inclusion criteria for each of these groups are as follows: Early Head Start and Head Start Educators: * Provision of signed and dated informed consent form in Docusign * Currently employed as a lead or assistant educator for \>20 hours per week in a participating Head Start or Early Head Start center * Stated intention to participate in the CHIME intervention * All genders; age 19 and older * Able to complete activities in English Parents * Provision of electronically (in Docusign) /manually signed informed consent form * All genders * Age 19 and older * is Parent or legal guardian of child enrolled in the classroom of a EHS/HS educator participating in the study * Able to complete activities Children * Provision of electronically signed informed consent form by parent/legal guardian * All genders; aged \< 6 years * Enrolled in the classroom of a EHS/HS educator participating in the study * If \> 3 years, ability to complete study activities in English or with translation support Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion criteria for each of the study groups are as follows: Early Head Start and Head Start Educators: * Does not currently work at a participating HS/EHS center * younger than 19 years of age Parents * Not a parent/legal guardian of a child in an EHS/HS classroom * younger than 19 years of age Children NA, although children less than 3 years will not complete the self-regulation tasks These exclusion criteria are essential to the design of the study. The population of interest is EHS/HS education staff (e.g., teachers) working within centers that have agreed to participate in the evaluation of CHIME. The legal age of majority in Nebraska is age 19 years.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588, United States
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