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Interbeing Wellness Program: Pre-Series Questionnaire Analysis
- wellnessimpactto
- Nov 6, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 28
WIL Publication | By Global Health Intern Sophia Bryan-Carbonell
The Interbeing Wellness Program, led by Dr. Harvey Skinner (Qi Gong) and Susan Harris (Mindfulness Meditation), offers 30-minute online sessions designed to support mind-body wellness. Each series runs for eight to ten weeks and draws on traditions like Tai Chi and Buddhist mindfulness to help participants improve emotional balance, reduce stress, and reconnect with their inner and outer worlds.
Before launching this season’s Interbeing Wellness series, the Wellness Impact Lab conducted a short pre-series survey to better understand our participants' goals, preferences, and levels of experience with these practices. This analysis offers a glimpse into who’s joining us this round and what aspects of the program matter most to them as they continue to build their personal wellness practices.
Analysis Overview
Our primary objective in collecting pre-series questionnaire data was to understand who our participants are, their goals, and their familiarity with mindfulness and Qi Gong practices. We received responses from 49 participants, which allowed us to build a clearer picture of the community we're serving.
Objective: To understand participant demographics, engagement preferences, and familiarity with wellness practices
Participants: 49 respondents, diverse in age and background
Participant's Main Goals
The main goals expressed by participants included enhancing emotional balance (80%), improving physical fitness (71%), cultivating mindfulness (69%), and managing distress (65%). Additionally, many participants sought a connection with nature and community. These responses highlight the diverse motivations driving people to join the series.
Top Participant Goals by Percentage
Emotional balance (80%)
Physical fitness (71%)
Cultivating mindfulness (69%)
Managing distress (65%)
Connecting with nature (37%)
Connecting with community (33%)
Demographic Breakdown
Our data showed that most participants are aged between 60 and 80, with a majority being female and predominantly of Caucasian descent. This older age demographic suggests that our program has been particularly attractive to retirees or those seeking support later in life.
However, this is also a limitation, as it does not represent a younger audience, particularly university students, which is a key focus of our future collaboration with the Undergraduate Psychology Student Association (UPSA). We want to diversify our outreach to make sure our upcoming sessions better cater to younger adults, specifically university students aged 18-25.
Suggestions for Increasing Participant Diversity
Collaborate with UPSA promotions (newsletters, social media, events)
Shorter, interactive sessions (15-20 minutes)
Address student-specific stressors (exams, sleep, focus)
Highlight academic benefits (focus, productivity)
Student-led sessions or ambassadors for relatability
Regular student feedback for program improvement
Preferred Methods of Engagement
Regarding engagement preferences, we found that participants valued flexibility, with many choosing live online sessions while others preferred watching recorded content. Offering both options has made our program accessible to different schedules and preferences, which is something we plan to continue.
Participant Engagement Preferences
Live online sessions (55%)
Live online sessions & video recordings (39%)
Video recordings of past sessions (6%)
Familiarity with Mindfulness and Qi Gong Concepts
The questionnaire also assessed participants' familiarity with mindfulness meditation and Qi Gong. Most participants were already familiar with mindfulness, while Qi Gong experience was more varied, with many expressing only partial or occasional familiarity. This gives us an opportunity to provide more foundational content on Qi Gong to make it more approachable for all.
Mindfulness Familiarity
Practiced occasionally (40.7%)
Somewhat familiar (35.6%)
Very experienced (20.3%)
Never tried (3.4%)
Qi Gong Familiarity
Practiced occasionally (46.7%)
Somewhat familiar (45%)
Very experienced (5%)
Never tried (3.3%)
Key Insights and Recommendations
Based on the data, we have identified a few key recommendations:
First, there is a strong demand for emotional balance and stress management, areas we must continue to emphasize.
Second, the predominantly older, female, and Caucasian demographic highlights an opportunity to expand our reach.
Third, providing introductory resources for Qi Gong will ensure that even those less familiar with the practice feel comfortable participating.
Additionally, by collaborating with the Undergraduate Psychology Student Association (UPSA), we aim to make our interbeing wellness program more inclusive and engaging for university students.
Limitations of the Data
The participants surveyed are largely older adults who have previously participated in the Interbeing Wellness series. This means that our findings may be skewed towards individuals who already have a certain level of familiarity and comfort with wellness practices like mindfulness and Qi Gong.
This familiarity can lead to a positive bias in the feedback received—many participants already know what to expect and may be more comfortable with these practices than newcomers. This is especially relevant as we shift our focus to younger university students, who might not have the same level of experience or interest in these wellness practices. Understanding these limitations helps us ensure that future versions of the program are more accessible and engaging for everyone, regardless of their level of experience.
Participant Demographics: Predominantly older adults (ages 60-80) and majority female, limiting generalizability to younger audiences.
Prior Familiarity: Many participants had previous experience with the Interbeing Wellness series, which may introduce positive bias in feedback
Limited Representation: Lack of diversity in racial backgrounds and age groups, especially among younger adults.
Potential Bias: Responses may be more favourable due to existing familiarity with mindfulness and Qi Gong practices.
Conclusions
In conclusion, our insights will help guide future program adjustments to better align with participant needs. We’re particularly excited about our upcoming collaboration with UPSA in January 2025. This partnership will help us introduce Qi Gong and mindfulness to younger audiences at York, building a new community of wellness.
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