Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Short-Term Intensive Mindfulness-Based Skills Training Program in Adolescents: a Real-World Group-Based Study

Abstract

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is an evidence-based group intervention, typically delivered in an eight-week standard protocol, which has limited accessibility, especially for Chinese adolescents. This study evaluated an intensive, one-week mindfulness-based skills training program designed to improve engagement among adolescents. Participants (N = 14, aged 12-22, Mage= 16.33, SDage= 2.53) completed standardized self-report measures of anxiety (BAI), depression (CDI), perceived stress (PSS), resilience (CD-RISC), mindfulness level (FFMQ), and mood (POMS) before and after the intervention. Paired t-tests were applied to assess psychological changes, and missing data was handled via mean imputation within subscales. Results indicated reductions in POMS tension–anxiety (p < .05, d = 0.087) and fatigue (p < .05, d = 0.285), as well as increases in FFMQ observing (p < .05, d = 0.650) and non-reactivity (p < .05, d = 0.727). However, the increase in CDI and PSS scores suggests that improved emotional awareness without sufficient coping strategies, such as acceptance and loving-kindness, may have negative effects. These findings support the hypothesis that a condensed mindfulness-based skills training program may improve specific dimensions of mindfulness and decrease mood disturbances in adolescents. The intensive treatment also has better cost-effectiveness and flexibility in time. However, effects were limited by design and sample size. The increases in distress and depression also highlight the need for adjustments in pacing and more focus on integration of skills. Given the mixed outcomes, future research should be based on a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare the immediate and long-term effects of the intervention with a manualized eight-week MBCT program.