Prospective Acceptability and Implementation Considerations of a Proposed Brief Online Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Intervention Among Military Personnel

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Abstract
Burnout constitutes a critical psychological and operational challenge in military environments, with potential implications for well-being and occupational functioning. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy has shown beneficial effects on stress and burnout across different populations; however, little is known about how brief online adaptations are perceived by active-duty military personnel prior to implementation. This qualitative study explored the prospective acceptability of a proposed brief online Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy program and identified perceived implementation considerations within the Portuguese Army. Fifteen participants (11 men and 4 women) took part in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis within a constructivist framework. Five themes were identified: previous experiences with psychological services, prospective acceptability of the proposed program, practical and cultural barriers, conditions for implementation, and preferences regarding format and facilitation. Participants generally viewed the proposed program favorably and identified brevity, confidentiality, scheduling flexibility, digital access, leadership support, and facilitator credibility as potentially important for future implementation, while stigma and workload were perceived as relevant barriers. These findings reflect prospective perceptions rather than actual intervention feasibility or effectiveness. Public Significance Statement: This study identifies key factors influencing how active-duty military personnel perceive a proposed brief online mindfulness-based intervention before implementation.
Funding Information
  • Foundation for Science and Technology (UID/05380/2025)
  • Foundation for Science and Technology (UID/PRR/05380/2025)
  • Foundation for Science and Technology (UID/PRR2/05380/2025)

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