2.2. Primary independent variables

The primary independent variables of interest are the frequency of performing four kinds of contemplative practices related to mindfulness and compassion, measured with four questions in the WELL survey. These questions were asked at W0, T1 and T2. Practices of mindfulness were measured by frequency over the last two weeks of embodied-observing practices (breathing deeply, gently stretching, noticing your senses) and by non-reactive practices (observing emotions and thoughts as they arise rather than being caught up in them). Compassion practices were measured by the frequency of self-compassion practices (pausing routine activities to observe and modify the way one is thinking to offer more compassion, love or kindness to oneself) and compassion practices toward others (pausing routine activities to observe and modify the way one is thinking to offer more compassion, love or kindness toward others). The frequency of each set of practices was measured on an ordinal scale (0–4: Never, Almost never, Sometimes, Fairly often, Very often). For each individual, a composite measure, CPB, was calculated as the mean of the four contemplative practice questions. Two representations of CPB are used in this study: A) Presence of any contemplative practices (binary, responding “Sometimes” or more frequent to any of the four contemplative practice questions at the time point); and B) CPB (continuous, average frequency of the four contemplative practices at the time point). See Supplemental Table 1 for a summary of the CPB questions and variables.