Online Mindfulness Intervention for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Adherence and Efficacy
Leila Forbes, Susan K. Johnson
Frontiers in Psychology March 29, 2022 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.709899 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | People living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) |
| Intervention | Online mindfulness training |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Online intervention Inflammatory bowel disease Ulcerative colitis Crohn’s disease |
| Key findings | Supported online mindfulness training led to a significantly higher completion rate (44.1%) compared to self-guided training (11.7%), with no difference in benefits between groups. |
Abstract
The impact of stress and other psychological variables on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) prognosis, treatment response, and functional level is well-established; however, typical IBD treatment focuses on the physiological pathology of the disease and neglects complementary stress-reducing interventions. Recent pilot studies report the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in people living with IBD, but are limited by small sample sizes. Recruitment challenges to in-person studies may be in part due to the difficulty IBD patients often have adhering to fixed schedules and travel as a result of IBD symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and incontinence. The current study aimed to address this barrier by offering participants access to online mindfulness training, allowing individuals to engage with intervention materials to fit their own schedule. Online mindfulness programs have gained popularity in recent years, as they increase access and flexibility and decrease cost to the user; however, the dropout rate tends to be high. The current study compared the rate of adherence and efficacy of mindfulness training as a function of level of support: self-guided versus supported. Analysis revealed no significant difference in the benefits received between participants in the two groups; however, a significant difference group (χ2 = 15.75; p = 0.000, r = 0.38) was found in terms of rate of completion, with 44.1% of the supportive group completing the protocol compared to 11.7% of the self-guided. Common challenges to meditation were measured, but did not significantly predict adherence to the intervention, and experience of these challenges did not significantly change (increase or decrease) over the duration of the study. Implications of the current research, future directions for the use of MBI for IBD patients, and a discussion of methodological considerations are provided.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- The effectiveness and applicability of mindfulness intervention in psychological adaptation after sports injury: a systematic review. Australian Journal of Psychology 2024
- Online mindfulness interventions in the care of people with physical and mental health conditions: a scoping review. BMJ Open July 18, 2025
- Effect of online mindfulness intervention on anxiety, depression, and stress in patients with chronic diseases. Explore July 8, 2025
- Acceptability and Feasibility of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Mixed-Methods Study Mindfulness August 14, 2026
- Breath-Counting Task Enhances the Sensitivity of Fear Acquisition. Behavioral Sciences February 24, 2025
Cites 13
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Web-Based Intervention in Mindfulness Meditation for Reducing Residual Depressive Symptoms and Relapse Prophylaxis: A Qualitative Study Journal of Medical Internet Research March 24, 2014
- mHealth: providing a mindfulness app for women with chronic pelvic pain in gynaecology outpatient clinics: qualitative data analysis of user experience and lessons learnt BMJ Open June 2, 2021
- Effectiveness of an 8-Week Web-Based Mindfulness Virtual Community Intervention for University Students on Symptoms of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial JMIR Mental Health June 17, 2020
- Brief Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Acute and Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine March 1, 2019
and 8 more in the library