Effects of mindfulness meditation on mindfulness, mental well-being, and perceived stress

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1022-1028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Zollars ◽  
Therese I. Poirier ◽  
Junvie Pailden
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Well Being

Efficacy of ‘Foundations’, a Digital Mental Health App to Improve Mental Well-Being, during COVID-19: A Proof-of-Principle Randomised Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvina Catuara-Solarz ◽  
Bartlomiej Skorulski ◽  
Inaki Estella ◽  
Claudia Avella-Garcia ◽  
Sarah Shepherd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
World Health ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Proof Of Principle

BACKGROUND Against a long-term trend of increasing demand, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global rise in common mental disorders. Now more than ever, there is an urgent need for scalable, evidence-based interventions to support mental well-being. OBJECTIVE The aim of this proof-of-principle study was to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile-based app in adults with self-reported symptoms of anxiety and stress in a randomised control trial that took place during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. METHODS Adults with mild to severe anxiety and moderate to high levels of perceived stress were randomised to either the intervention or control arm. Participants in the intervention arm were given access to the app, Foundations, for the duration of the 4-week study. All participants were required to self-report a range of validated measures of mental well-being (10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience scale [CD-RISC-10]; 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]; Office of National Statistics Four Subjective Well-being Questions [ONS-4]; World Health Organisation-5 Well-Being Index [WHO-5]) and sleep (Minimal Insomnia Scale [MISS]) at baseline and weeks 2 and 4; and, in addition, on perceived stress weekly (10-item Perceived Stress Score [PSS]). RESULTS 136 participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis. The intervention group (n=62) showed significant improvements compared to the control group (n=74) on measures of anxiety (GAD-7 score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -1.35 [SD 4.43]; control group: -0.23 [SD 3.24]; t134= 1.71 , P=.04), resilience (CD-RISC score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: 1.79 [± SD 4.08]; control group: -0.31 [± SD 3.16]; t134 -3.37, P<.001), sleep (MISS score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -1.16 [± SD 2.67]; control group: -0.26 [± SD 2.29]; t134= 2.13, P=.01), and mental well-being (WHO-5 score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: 1.53 [5.30]; control group: -0.23 [± SD 4.20]; t134= -2.16, P=.02) within 2 weeks of using Foundations, with further improvements emerging at week 4. Perceived stress was also reduced within the intervention group, although the results did not reach statistical significance relative to the control group (PSS score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -2.94 [± SD 6.84]; control group: -2.05 [± SD 5.34]; t134= 0.84, P=.20). CONCLUSIONS This study provides proof-of-principle that the digital mental health app, Foundations, can improve measures of mental well-being, anxiety, resilience, and sleep within 2 weeks of use, with greater effects after 4 weeks. It therefore offers potential as a scalable, cost-effective, and accessible solution to enhance mental well-being, even during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of an App-Based Mindfulness-Meditation Program Among Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leeann Mahlo ◽  
Tim D Windsor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
The Body ◽  
Study Interval ◽  
Design And Methods

Abstract Background and Objectives Few studies have focused on the utility of mindfulness-meditation for well-being in older adults. The present study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an app-based mindfulness-meditation program among older adults. Research Design and Methods A community-based sample of 46 participants aged between 63 and 81 (M = 70.85, SD = 4.70) engaged with a 30-day app-based mindfulness-meditation program for 10 min daily on their smartphones. Each meditation session comprised focusing on the breath, mentally scanning the body, monitoring the mind’s activity, and cultivating a nonjudgmental orientation toward experiences. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, day 10, and day 30. Results On average, participants completed 25 sessions and almost 4 h of application use across the 30 days. Results of linear mixed effects models showed significant improvements in positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction across the study interval, but no meaningful change in total mindfulness or perceived stress. Furthermore, relative to high levels of smartphone efficacy, low smartphone efficacy was associated with higher perceived stress and negative affect, and less life satisfaction at baseline; and steeper improvements on these outcomes across the study interval. On average, older adults rated the app-based mindfulness-meditation training as interesting, enjoyable, valuable, and useful. Discussion and Implications The findings provide preliminary support for the feasibility and acceptability of an app-based mindfulness-meditation program with community-dwelling older adults and demonstrate potential benefits for well-being. Results suggest the value of further research investigating the efficacy of digital mindfulness-meditation interventions for older adults via larger randomized controlled trials.

Mind–Body Interventions and Sleep: Dealing with Stress and Improving Emotional Wellness

2021 ◽  
pp. 171-194
Author(s):  
Sophie von Garnier ◽  
Shauna L. Shapiro ◽  
Jason C. Ong
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Muscle Relaxation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Progressive Muscle Relaxation ◽  
Relaxation Techniques ◽  
Emotional Wellness ◽  
Improve Sleep Quality ◽  
Mental Well Being

Research has shown that sleep is essential to our physical and mental well-being. In this chapter, the authors discuss the relationships between psychological functioning, stress, and sleep, demonstrating that sleep plays a key role in cognitive and emotional processes and mental health. They also illustrate how various psychological factors contribute to sleep disturbance and explore different relaxation techniques shown to improve sleep quality, including deep breathing, guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation. Finally, the authors examine Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Insomnia, a pioneering intervention that integrates cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness training.

Mental Well-Being Mediates the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Perceived Health

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Chian Teh ◽  
Josephine A. Archer ◽  
Weining Chang ◽  
SH Annabel Chen
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Perceived Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
The Relationship

scholarly journals Telephone Emergency Service 142 (TelefonSeelsorge) during the COVID-19 Pandemic–Cross-Sectional Survey among Counselors in Austria

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2228
Author(s):  
Elke Humer ◽  
Christoph Pieh ◽  
Thomas Probst ◽  
Ida-Maria Kisler ◽  
Wolfgang Schimböck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Stress Level ◽  
Crisis Intervention ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Second Wave

Telephone emergency services play an important role in providing low-threshold, anonymous crisis intervention free of cost. The current study aims to examine the mental well-being and perceived stress level of counselors as well as the main topics of helpline callers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. In the current study, 374 counselors were recruited within the Austrian nationwide organization TelefonSeelsorge during the second wave of COVID-19 infection in Austria. The mental well-being (WHO-5) and perceived stress-level (PSS-10) were assessed and counselors were asked about the frequency of different topics thematized by callers and changes compared to pre-pandemic times. Compared to a reference group of the Austrian general population, counselors experienced less stress (13.22 vs. 16.42) and higher mental well-being (66.26 vs. 57.36; p < 0.001). The most frequent topics during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria were loneliness and mental health. More calls were registered in 2020 compared to 2019 and especially the topics loneliness, mental health, professional activities and relationships were reported to be thematized more often during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the time before (p < 0.001). The results contribute to an understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telephone crisis intervention.

scholarly journals Affirming Basic Psychological Needs Promotes Mental Well-Being During the COVID-19 Outbreak

2020 ◽  
pp. 194855062094270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Cantarero ◽  
Wijnand A. P. van Tilburg ◽  
Ewelina Smoktunowicz
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Online Intervention ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Ability To Work ◽  
Mental Well Being

We tested if challenges to basic psychological needs (BPN) for autonomy, competence, and relatedness during the COVID-19 pandemic undermine people’s mental well-being. Furthermore, we tested if an intervention, affirmation of these psychological needs, enhances mental well-being. Results of Study 1 ( N = 153) showed that higher levels of satisfaction of BPN were related to higher well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak. In Study 2 ( N = 215), we employed an online intervention enhancing these BPN. We found increased mental well-being through bolstered relatedness in particular. The intervention also decreased perceived stress. Both studies showed that mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic is positively related to the ability to work as usual and the number of people contacted via phone or internet but not in person.

Islamic Religious Coping, Perceived Stress, and Mental Well-being in Pakistanis

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziasma Haneef Khan ◽  
P.J. Watson ◽  
Zhuo Chen
Keyword(s):  
Religious Coping ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Well Being

scholarly journals Feasibility and Acceptability of App-Based Mindfulness-Meditation Training for Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 411-411
Author(s):  
Leeann Mahlo ◽  
Tim Windsor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Study Interval

Abstract Few studies have focused on the utility of mindfulness-meditation for well-being in older adults. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of an app-based mindfulness-meditation program for community-based older adults. A convenience sample of 46 participants aged between 63 and 81 (M = 70.85, SD = 4.70) was recruited from the community. Participants were invited to engage with a 30-day app-based mindfulness-meditation program for 10-minutes daily on their smartphones. Each meditation session comprised focusing on the breath, mentally scanning the body, monitoring the mind’s activity, and cultivating a nonjudgmental attitude toward experience. Participants completed psychosocial questionnaires at baseline, day 10, and day 30. On average, participants completed 25 sessions and almost 4 hours of application use across the 30-days. Results of linear mixed effects models showed significant improvements in positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction across the study interval, but no meaningful change in total or facet-level mindfulness or perceived stress. Furthermore, relative to high levels of smartphone efficacy, low smartphone efficacy was associated with higher perceived stress and negative affect, and less life satisfaction at baseline; and steeper improvements on these outcomes across the study interval. Results indicated that, on average, older adults found app-based mindfulness-meditation training interesting, enjoyable, valuable, and useful. The findings provide preliminary support for the feasibility and acceptability of an app-based mindfulness-meditation program with community-based older adults and demonstrate potential benefits for well-being. Furthermore, older adults’ perceptions of smartphone competency may play an important role in the outcomes of app-based programs.

scholarly journals Dispositional Mindfulness, Perceived Stress, and Mental Well-Being in the Cancer Survivorship

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 9-19
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Liu ◽  
Pei Hwa Goh ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
Jingjing Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Impairment ◽  
Dispositional Mindfulness ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Mental Well Being

The present study aims to investigate how dispositional mindfulness affects the mental well-being of cancer patients through the way they perceive stress. A total of 182 moderate and advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients volunteered to complete the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Results showed that perceived stress significantly mediated the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and all dimensions of the mental well-being as captured by the GHQ (i.e. anxiety/depression, social dysfunction, and loss of confidence), and perceived stress was positively correlated with all the dimensions of mental well-being. Results of the Structural Equation Model showed that the model fit the data very well (χ2/df = 1.72，RMSEA = 0.063 (95% CI = 0.014 ~ 0.103), CFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.970, SRMR=0.041). Further analyses showed that dispositional mindfulness predicted all the dimensions of psychological well-being. Specifically, higher levels of dispositional mindfulness predicted reduced subjective perceptions of stress, which in turn predicted lower levels of anxiety/depression, social impairment, and loss of confidence. This study indicated a possible mechanism of intervention focused on improving mindfulness capability. Future work is encouraged to investigate the long-term influence of dispositional mindfulness on perceived stress and psychological well-being in cancer patients with other types of cancer.

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