Effects of an 8-Week Mindfulness Course in People With Voice Disorders.
Catherine Kay Brown, Julinette Vazquez, Stacie M Metz, Donald A. Mccown
Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation March 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.10.031 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed methods study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 69 |
| Population | Individuals with voice disorders, excluding those currently in voice therapy |
| Intervention | Mindfulness course |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness-based stress reduction Singing voice Voice disorders Voice therapy |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key points | An 8-week mindfulness course significantly increased mindfulness and reduced perceived stress, voice handicap, and singing voice handicap in people with voice disorders compared to a waitlist control group. |
Abstract
Nearly every modern textbook on the etiology and treatment of voice disorders (VD) recommends stress reduction for VD patients. The benefits of mindfulness for stress reduction are well documented, but published literature on mindfulness and VD is sparse. Our objective was to determine whether an 8-week mindfulness course could increase mindfulness and lower stress in people with VD, leading to a decrease in vocal handicap. Mixed methods study. Participants: 69 individuals with VD: 39 were mindfulness course participants (MCP), 30 were in a waitlist control group (WCG). Exclusionary criteria: patients in voice therapy. Before and after the 8-week timeframe, participants took the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and-for singers (n = 36)-the Singing Voice Handicap Index (SVHI). Follow-up interviews were conducted with select participants. In the MCP, each of the outcomes significantly changed in the direction hypothesized, resulting in increased MAAS (P = 0.000) and decreased PSS-10 (P = 0.007), VHI (P = 0.000), and SVHI (P = 0.021, n = 22) scores. Using a 2 × 2 Repeated Measures ANOVA, two outcomes were statistically different for the MCP from pre to postcourse-MAAS increased (P = 0.006, ES = 0.107) and VHI decreased (P = 0.034, ES = 0.065)-in comparison to no change in the WCG. Follow-up interviews revealed increased acceptance of the VD; reduced stress, physical tension, and pain/discomfort; increased somatic (or interoceptive) awareness; community with other VD patients; and positive speaking and singing voice changes. An 8-week mindfulness course shows promise for reducing stress in people with VD, lowering voice handicap, and improving quality of life. Future research should evaluate mindfulness in patients with specific voice disorders; patients with higher and lower VHI scores; singers; and patients who experience throat pain. Mindfulness should also be evaluated within a standard voice therapy protocol.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
- Effects of Low-Dose Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR-ld) on Working Adults Health Education & Behavior May 9, 2008
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Psychiatry. FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry January 24, 2018
- Immediate Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on the Voice. Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation May 2025
and 5 more in the library