Short-term effect of internet-delivered mindfulness-based stress reduction on mental health, self-efficacy, and body image among women with breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic
Yun‐Chen Chang, Chang‐Fang Chiu, Chih-Kai Wang, Chen-Teng Wu, Liang‐Chih Liu, Yao‐Chung Wu
Frontiers in Psychology October 25, 2022 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.949446 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn Internet-based Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (iMBSR) program improved anxiety, body image, and self-efficacy in women with breast cancer in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixty-seven women were assigned to a 6-week iMBSR program or a waitlist control group. iMBSR did not significantly reduce depression or stress compared to the control group, but it did improve anxiety with a medium effect size and showed large benefits for body image and self-efficacy. The findings suggest that iMBSR can support mental health and well-being in this population, and that internet-based clinical health education may be useful during a pandemic.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental with waitlist control Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 67 |
| Population | Women with breast cancer in Taiwan |
| Intervention | Internet-Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (iMBSR) |
| Duration | 6-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Mental health Pandemic Breast cancer Mindfulness-based stress reduction Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 38 |
| Key finding | iMBSR improved anxiety, body image, and self-efficacy in women with breast cancer, but did not significantly reduce depression or stress compared to the control group. |
Abstract
Background and aim During the COVID-19 pandemic, an Internet-Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (iMBSR) program was delivered and may be better than an in-person approach. Our study evaluated the effects of iMBSR intervention on mental health, self-efficacy, and body image in women with breast cancer in Taiwan. Materials and methods Sixty-seven women with breast cancer were allocated to a 6-week iMBSR ( n = 41) program or a waitlist control group ( n = 26), without heterogeneity between group characteristics. Patients from both groups were measured at baseline and postintervention using three scales: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), General self-efficacy scale, and Body Image Scale. Descriptive dataset analysis, paired t -test, and Student’s t -test were used to evaluate the data. Results Although iMBSR did not significantly improve depression and stress between groups, iMBSR could improve anxiety (Δmean: −2.0 vs. −0.4, p = 0.041) with medium effect sizes. Significant benefits were found for body image (Δmean: −3.6 vs. 0.9, p = 0.003) and self-efficacy (Δmean: 4.2 vs. 1.5, p = 0.004), with large effect sizes (Cohen’s d = 0.73). Conclusion Our preliminary study supports iMBSR as a program that can improve mental health, body image, and self-efficacy in women with breast cancer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical professionals can use Internet-based clinical health education.