An 8-week online Mindfulness Virtual Community program, combining mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy principles, was tested against a wait-list control in 154 undergraduates during a university labor strike. The program produced a statistically significant reduction in perceived stress but did not significantly reduce depression or anxiety, nor improve mindfulness, compared to the control group. The authors discuss how these null results for most outcomes contrast with two prior trials conducted during normal university operations, and suggest the findings offer insight into the impact of campus disruptions on online mental health interventions.
An 8-week web-based mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy program called Mindfulness Virtual Community (MVC) reduced depression and anxiety symptoms in undergraduate students compared with a waitlist control group, but had no significant effect on perceived stress. The program included video modules, discussion forums, and live videoconferences. Among 159 students, those in the MVC group showed a statistically significant decrease in depression scores and anxiety scores, and a significant increase in mindfulness scores. The findings suggest that online mindfulness interventions can help address common mental health conditions in university populations at scale.