Short-Term Intensive MBSR and Mental Health Outcomes: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Immediate and Long-Term Effects
Journal of Risk & Control January 2, 2026 Cheng-Wen Lee
A five-day intensive Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program improved emotional well-being, reduced depressive symptoms, and increased mindfulness awareness in twelve adults. Emotional well-being showed a medium improvement, depressive symptoms decreased substantially, and mindfulness awareness showed a large gain. No participant experienced declines in emotional well-being, and nearly all improved in mindfulness awareness. Follow-up analyses at two and four months suggested enduring benefits, including greater emotional clarity, enhanced acceptance, reduced self-criticism, improved stress coping, and increased present-moment engagement. Individuals with prior mindfulness experience consistently showed higher baseline and post-test mindfulness levels. The findings support the five-day intensive MBSR program as a practical alternative to traditional longer courses.