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Promoting college students’ mindfulness, mental health, and self-compassion in the time of COVID-19: feasibility and efficacy of an online, interactive mindfulness-based stress reduction randomized trial

Helen Z. MacDonald, Tracy Neville

Journal of College Student Psychotherapy April 10, 2022 DOI: 10.1080/87568225.2022.2028329 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Pilot randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 27
Population Healthy college students during the COVID-19 pandemic
Intervention Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Topics Meditation
Keywords Education
Key findings Online MBSR led to greater increases in mindful self-compassion and observing mindfulness compared to controls, with small clinically meaningful mental health effects.

Abstract

ABSTRACT College students are experiencing heightened mental health difficulties, with problems intensifying during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a group intervention focused on cultivating mindfulness skills, with demonstrated efficacy in reducing psychopathology and bolstering mental health. This pilot randomized trial assessed the feasibility, engagement, and efficacy of an online adaptation of MBSR among healthy college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were randomly allocated to either an adapted MBSR group (n = 17) or a control group (n = 10). Participants completed mental health questionnaires prior to, and following the intervention. The intervention was demonstrated to be feasible and participants were engaged. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction participants reported greater increases over time in mindful self-compassion and observing mindfulness compared to control participants. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction participants demonstrated marginally greater overall mindfulness and well-being over time. This study identified small, clinically meaningful mental health effects of an online adaptation of MBSR among college students.

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

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