MBSR effects on positive psychological traits and experiential avoidance in head and neck cancer: a randomized controlled trial.
European Journal of Psychotraumatology December 1, 2025 Zheng Zhang, Qingqin Zhang, Ping Lu et al. 3 citations
In a randomized controlled trial of 80 head and neck cancer patients, a six-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program, compared with treatment as usual, significantly increased optimism from the start to the end of the program and from the end of the program to a later follow-up, with medium effect sizes. Hope did not increase during the program but did increase significantly at the follow-up. The program did not sustain changes in posttraumatic growth or experiential avoidance beyond the initial period. Experiential avoidance partially explained the link between MBSR and posttraumatic growth, while hope and optimism did not. The authors suggest MBSR can be part of treatment for these patients.