An open trial of mindfulness‐based stress reduction for young adults with social anxiety disorder

Abstract

The present study investigated mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for young adults with a social anxiety disorder (SAD) in an open trial. Fifty-three young adults in a higher education setting underwent a standard eight-week MBSR program. Eight participants (15%) did not complete the program. Participants reported significant reductions in SAD symptoms and global psychological distress, as well as increases in mindfulness, self-compassion, and self-esteem. Using intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses, effect sizes ranged from large to moderate for SAD symptoms (Cohen's d = 0.80) and global psychological distress (d = 0.61). Completer analyses yielded large effect sizes for SAD symptoms (d = 0.96) and global psychological distress (d = 0.81). The largest effect sizes were found for self-compassion (d = 1.49) and mindfulness (d = 1.35). Two thirds of the participants who were in the clinical range at pretreatment reported either clinically significant change (37%) or reliable improvement (31%) on SAD symptoms after completing the MBSR program, and almost two thirds reported either clinically significant change (37%) or reliable improvement (26%) on global psychological distress. MBSR may be a beneficial intervention for young adults in higher education with SAD, and there is a need for more research on mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions for SAD.

The effects of mindfulness‐based stress reduction on depression, anxiety, and stress in older adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…In Zhang et al (2005)'s study, they recruited older adults with long-term insomnia, while those with various medical conditions such as arthritis, sleep disturbances, hypertension, and heart disease were included in Moss et al (2015)'s study. Our results offer reasonably consistent support to previous literature reporting that MBSR alleviated depressive symptoms in working-age adults with various comorbid medical conditions such as social anxiety disorder (Hjeltnes et al 2017), cardiovascular diseases (Abbott et al 2014), cancer (Piet et al 2012), and long-term medical diseases (Bohlmeijer et al 2010). Sensitivity analysis was thus conducted by excluding the study with a nonclinical population (Gallegos et al 2013); subsequently, the finding shifted to a higher level of statistical significance with effect size estimates of Hedges' g = À1.07.…”

“…Our results offer reasonably consistent support to previous literature reporting that MBSR alleviated depressive symptoms in working‐age adults with various comorbid medical conditions such as social anxiety disorder (Hjeltnes et al . ), cardiovascular diseases (Abbott et al . ), cancer (Piet et al .…”

Facing social fears: How do improved participants experience change in mindfulness‐based stress reduction for social anxiety disorder?

“…() have specifically argued that self‐compassion may represent “a logical antidote” to the negative self‐awareness, shame and self‐criticism experienced by individuals with SAD. Our findings indicate that increased self‐compassion or self‐esteem may represent potential mediators between MBSR and SAD (Hjeltnes, ). The final theme illustrates how MBSR may be relevant to the avoidance behaviour and interpersonal problems associated with SAD.…”

“…The data reported in this paper derived from a larger clinical study of MBSR for young adults with SAD, conducted at the University of Bergen, Norway (Hjeltnes et al., ). The study was conducted as a low‐threshold intervention on the university campus, in cooperation with the mental health counselling centre at the University of Bergen.…”

Comparison of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): Reducing Anxiety Symptoms

“…Not only previous studies have supported the application of mindfulness-based stress reduction in patients with this disorder (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19) but also therapists have supported CBT in patients improvement (20)(21)(22). Furthermore, some studies have investigated MBSR versus CBT (23)(24)(25)(26).…”