Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for perceived stress and psychosomatic symptoms in Chinese adolescent girls: a mixed-methods school-based study of parent and teacher perceptions.
BMC Psychology October 14, 2025 YunNan Zhao
School-delivered Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) reduced perceived stress and psychosomatic symptoms among 14-16-year-old female students in China, with improvements sustained at two-month follow-up. In a quasi-experimental study with 60 eligible students randomly allocated to MBCT or school-as-usual control, the MBCT group showed greater reductions in stress and symptoms, with mean reductions exceeding a conventional 0.5 standard deviation benchmark. Qualitative interviews with parents and teachers revealed six themes: reduced stress reactivity, improved emotion regulation and self-awareness, strengthened coping, enhanced communication, better classroom engagement, and conditions for maintenance such as practice dose and supports. Interpretation remains cautious due to the passive control and short follow-up.