Relationships between mindfulness practice and levels of mindfulness, medical and psychological symptoms and well-being in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program

Interventions based on mindfulness meditation are increasingly common and evidence exists supporting their use. However, questions remain regarding treatment mechanisms accounting for beneficial effects. The current study examined one candidate mechanism – mindfulness practice quality – as a mediator of the link between practice time and outcome within mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). Participants (n=96) completed measures of mindfulness and psychological symptoms at baseline and post-treatment. A weekly questionnaire assessed practice time and quality over the eight weeks of MBSR. Multilevel models accounted for nesting within participants, MBSR groups, and instructors. Results generally supported the reliability and validity of a weekly single-item practice quality measure. Greater practice time was associated with improved practice quality (r=.48). Increases in practice quality predicted improvements in self-report mindfulness and psychological symptoms (bs=.35, .30, and -.19, ps<.05,), but not behavioral mindfulness (b=-.02, p=.879). In multilevel mediation models, improved practice quality mediated the link between practice time and changes in self-report mindfulness, suggesting improved practice quality functions as a mechanism linking practice time and outcome in MBSR. Future research evaluating practice quality in clinical samples, in tandem with intensive sampling paradigms (e.g., experience sampling) and objective (behavioral, physiological) outcomes may be warranted.

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Changes in Perceived Stress following a 10-week Digital Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Program: A Retrospective Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.25078 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Aarathi Venkatesan ◽

Holly Krymis ◽

Jenny Scharff ◽

Art Waber

Keyword(s):

Perceived Stress ◽

Stress Level ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Mindfulness Practice ◽

Reliable Change Index ◽

Health Coach ◽

Significant Positive Association ◽

Reduction Program ◽

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

BACKGROUND As the need for effective, scalable interventions for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress has grown, the digital delivery of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has gained research interest as a promising intervention in this domain. OBJECTIVE In the present study, we evaluate changes in perceived stress following a 10-week digital mindfulness-based stress reduction program that combined an app-based digital program with weekly one-on-one remote sessions with a health coach. METHODS The study utilized a retrospective, observational design. 229 participants with moderate to high perceived stress score as assessed by the PSS-10 enrolled in the 10-week Vida Health mindfulness-based stress reduction program. The program included weekly remote sessions with a certified health coach and digital content based on core concepts fundamental to mindfulness practice. The clinically validated Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was used to evaluate perceived stress. Of the 229 participants, 131 (57.2%) were considered program completers and provided at least one follow-up PSS-10. A secondary analysis examined changes in stress scores at 6 months. This analysis was restricted to participants who had been enrolled in the program for at least 6 months (N = 121). To account for random and fixed effects, linear mixed effects modeling (MLM) was employed to assess changes in stress scores over time. Additionally, the reliable change index was computed to evaluate changes in stress scores from baseline. RESULTS The results revealed a significant positive association of program time on stress reduction (B = -0.365, P = .000) at 12 weeks. We observed an average reduction in stress scores of 3.17 points (95% CI -3.93 to -2.44) by program week 6 and 4.86 points (95% CI -5.86 to -3.85) by program week 12. Overall, 83.2% (109/131) of participants showed a reduction in perceived stress scores by week 12 with 40.46% (53/131) of participants showing reliable improvement in 12 weeks and 47.75% (56/131) participants showing a shift to a lower stress level category (i.e., moderate to low stress). Participants who completed more lessons had an increased likelihood of moving down at least one stress-level category (OR = 1.512, 95% CI 1.056 to 2.166, P = .024). In assessing medium-term stress outcomes, among participants who had completed at least 6 months since starting the program, 59 (48.76%) members provided a 6-month assessment. We observed a significant reduction in stress scores at 6 months, t(58) = 10.24, P =.000, with 61.01% of participants (36/59) showing a reliable improvement. CONCLUSIONS The findings in this retrospective, observational study suggest that a blended digital mindfulness-based intervention may support program uptake and meaningful, sustained reduction in stress outcomes.

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Exploring the mediating role of integrative self‐knowledge in the relationship between mindfulness and well‐being in the context of a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program

International Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1002/ijop.12705 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Maryam Abbasi ◽

Nima Ghorbani ◽

Amir Hossein Imani ◽

Sahar Tahbaz Hoseinzadeh

Keyword(s):

Stress Reduction ◽

Well Being ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Reduction Program ◽

Self Knowledge ◽

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ◽

The Relationship

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Feasibility and Acceptability of an Abbreviated, Four-Week Mindfulness Program for Chronic Pain Management

Pain Medicine ◽

10.1093/pm/pnaa208 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (11) ◽

pp. 2799-2810 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carrie E Brintz ◽

Isabel Roth ◽

Keturah Faurot ◽

Sanjana Rao ◽

Susan A Gaylord

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Pain Management ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Well Being ◽

Post Treatment ◽

Mindfulness Practice ◽

Dispositional Mindfulness ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Abstract Objective The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program is effective at improving chronic pain outcomes, but the time demand hinders participation. This preliminary study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effects of providing an abbreviated mindfulness program for patients with chronic pain. Design A single-arm, mixed-methods, pre–post intervention study. Setting An outpatient rehabilitation clinic at an academic medical center. Subjects Participants were N = 23 adults with chronic pain who were new to mindfulness practice. Methods Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction was adapted to shorten the program to four weekly 90-minute sessions and to focus content on pain management. Three cohorts of six to nine participants completed baseline and post-treatment measures of 1) patient-reported outcomes, including pain intensity, pain interference, physical functioning, depressive/anxiety symptoms, positive affect and well-being, and sleep disturbance; 2) pain medication dosages; 3) psychosocial variables including pain acceptance, pain catastrophizing, and perceived stress; 4) dispositional mindfulness, as well as postintervention structured interviews about their experiences. Results Acceptable rates of retention and attendance and high ratings of satisfaction indicated that the intervention was feasible and acceptable. In interviews, participants found the program acceptable and beneficial and provided suggestions to improve it. From pre- to post-treatment, significant improvements were reported in all measures except physical functioning and anxiety. Conclusions In adults with chronic pain, a four-week mindfulness program is feasible and acceptable, addresses the barrier of a lengthy program, and may improve quality of life and psychological functioning. An appropriately powered randomized controlled trial with a comparison group is needed to assess the intervention’s effectiveness.

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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1177/2156587214533703 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 227-234 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Rachel E. Goldsmith ◽

James I. Gerhart ◽

Samantha A. Chesney ◽

John W. Burns ◽

Brighid Kleinman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Mindfulness Practice ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽

Emotional Experiences ◽

Stress Symptoms ◽

Adult Participants ◽

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ◽

Trauma Appraisals

Mindfulness-based psychotherapies are associated with reductions in depression and anxiety. However, few studies address whether mindfulness-based approaches may benefit individuals with posttraumatic stress symptoms. The current pilot study explored whether group mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy reduced posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, and negative trauma-related appraisals in 9 adult participants who reported trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress or depression. Participants completed 8 sessions of mindfulness-based stress reduction treatment, as well as pretreatment, midtreatment, and posttreatment assessments of psychological symptoms, acceptance of emotional experiences, and trauma appraisals. Posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, and shame-based trauma appraisals were reduced over the 8-week period, whereas acceptance of emotional experiences increased. Participants’ self-reported amount of weekly mindfulness practice was related to increased acceptance of emotional experiences from pretreatment to posttreatment. Results support the utility of mindfulness-based therapies for posttraumatic stress symptoms and reinforce studies that highlight reducing shame and increasing acceptance as important elements of recovery from trauma.

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