Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on anxiety symptoms in young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Zhou, Xiang; Guo, Jieyu; L, Gao; Chen, Chaoran; Xie, Zhengjun; Liu, Jiangmin; Zhang, Chuning

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113002

Cited by 44 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…In particular, mindfulness-based interventions, as mindfulness-based stress reduction [ 38 ] and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy [ 39 ], are warranted since they favor enhancement of the ability to focus attention and awareness on the present moment. Both protocols have notable empirical support and have proved to be valuable choices for treating psychological responses to traumatic experiences [ 40 , 41 , 42 ]. For this reason, they could represent valuable treatment options for persons exposed to the traumatic experience of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tendency to Worry and Fear of Mental Health during Italy’s COVID-19 Lockdown

Baiano¹,

Zappullo²,

Conson³

2020

IJERPH

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Background: We tested whether the tendency to worry could affect psychological responses to quarantine by capitalizing on the opportunity of having collected data before the COVID-19 outbreak on measures of worry, anxiety, and trait mindfulness in a group of university students. Methods: Twenty-five participants completed self-report measures assessing worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire, PSWQ), anxiety (Anxiety Sensitivity Index, ASI-3), and trait mindfulness (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, MAAS) at T0 (pre-lockdown, 4 November 2019–17 February 2020) and T1 (at the end of lockdown, 26 April–30 April 2020). We compared assessments at the two time points in the whole sample and in high and low worriers (defined at T0 by scores on PSWQ respectively above and below 1.5 SD from mean of the Italian normative sample). Outcomes: High worriers showed at T1 a significant increase of anxiety sensitivity and fear of mental health in comparison to low worriers. Moreover, in the whole sample, at T1 trait mindfulness was inversely related to worry and fear of mental health. Interpretation: A valuable approach to support individuals experiencing anxiety related to the COVID-19 outbreak could be represented by mindfulness-based interventions improving the ability to focus attention and awareness on the present moment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tendency to Worry and Fear of Mental Health during Italy’s COVID-19 Lockdown

Baiano¹,

Zappullo²,

Conson³

2020

IJERPH

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“…Research has shown that mindfulness-based interventions can effectively decrease participants’ psychological distress (the parameters such as depression, anxiety, and stress) and improve their self-compassion and psychological flexibility, which both are positively and strongly related to mental health (e.g. Vonderlin et al 2020 ; Dawson et al 2020 ; Zhou et al 2020 ; Marshall and Brockman 2016 ; Inwood and Ferrari 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness-based intervention in social workers working during the COVID-19 crisis

Asl

2021

Curr Psychol

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As one of the frontline professionals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, social workers can face tremendous pressure, which can lead to mental health problems. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a brief mindfulness-based intervention had short- and middle-term effects on social workers working during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a randomized controlled trial, 49 social workers were assigned to an experimental group ( n = 28) or a waitlist control group ( n = 21). The intervention was a four-week mindfulness-based program. The outcome variables were measured at pre- and post-test, and at one-month follow-up test. At post-test and follow-up, the workers in the experimental group reported higher mean scores in psychological flexibility and self-compassion and lower mean scores in depression compared to the workers in the waitlist control group. Although the experimental group also showed lower mean scores than the waitlist control group in anxiety and stress at both post-test and follow, the differences were not statistically significant. The findings suggest that a brief mindfulness-based intervention can improve psychological flexibility, self-compassion, and depression in social workers working during the COVID-19 crisis, leading to protected mental health, adding support to continuing development of such efficient mindfulness-based programs. Future studies should use larger samples and examine brief interventions’ working mechanisms. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-021-02150-3.

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“…Mindfulness is associated with emotional well-being (Bränström et al 2011;Kong et al 2014;Lyvers et al 2014;Malinowski and Lim 2015) and fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety (Cheung and Ng 2019). MBIs have also been proven effective in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression (Khoury et al 2015;Krägeloh et al 2019;Williams et al 2014;Zhou et al 2020). Furthermore, mindfulness practice has been utilized for the treatment of mental disorders by helping individuals to increase awareness of both internal and external stimuli and repeatedly re-directing their attention (e.g., to the breath) in order not to be overwhelmed by distressing emotions, sensations, and thoughts (Barcaccia and Couyoumdjian 2018;Krägeloh et al 2019).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Network Analysis of Mindfulness Facets, Affect, Compassion, and Distress

et al. 2020

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Objectives Mindfulness, positive affect, and compassion may protect against psychological distress but there is lack of understanding about the ways in which these factors are linked to mental health. Network analysis is a statistical method used to investigate complex associations among constructs in a single network and is particularly suitable for this purpose. The aim of this study was to explore how mindfulness facets, affect, and compassion were linked to psychological distress using network analysis. Methods The sample (n = 400) included equal numbers from general and student populations who completed measures of five mindfulness facets, compassion, positive and negative affect, depression, anxiety, and stress. Network analysis was used to explore the direct associations between these variables. Results Compassion was directly related to positive affect, which in turn was strongly and inversely related to depression and positively related to the observing and describing facets of mindfulness. The non-judgment facet of mindfulness was strongly and inversely related to negative affect, anxiety, and depression, while non-reactivity and acting with awareness were inversely associated with stress and anxiety, respectively. Strong associations were found between all distress variables. Conclusions The present network analysis highlights the strong link between compassion and positive affect and suggests that observing and describing the world through the lens of compassion may enhance resilience to depression. Taking a non-judging and non-reacting stance toward internal experience while acting with awareness may protect against psychological distress. Applicability of these findings can be examined in experimental studies aiming to prevent distress and enhance psychological well-being.

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Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on anxiety symptoms in young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Cited by 44 publications

References 58 publications

Tendency to Worry and Fear of Mental Health during Italy’s COVID-19 Lockdown

Tendency to Worry and Fear of Mental Health during Italy’s COVID-19 Lockdown

A randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness-based intervention in social workers working during the COVID-19 crisis

Network Analysis of Mindfulness Facets, Affect, Compassion, and Distress

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