Beyond the individual: Group effects in mindfulness-based stress reduction
Zac E. Imel, Scott A. Baldwin, Katherine Bonus, Donal G. Maccoon
Psychotherapy Research September 12, 2008 DOI: 10.1080/10503300802326038 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 606 |
| Population | Adults in 59 groups completing an 8-week MBSR program |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness-based stress reduction Checklist Clinical psychology Psychotherapist Multilevel model Cognitive psychology |
| Citations | 119 |
| Key findings | Group membership accounted for 7% of the variability in general symptom change and 0% in medical symptom change after controlling for pretreatment severity. |
Abstract
The authors explored the group as a source of change in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). Participants consisted of 606 adults in 59 groups who completed an 8-week MBSR program. The authors examined change in the General Symptom Index (GSI) of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised and the Medical Symptom Checklist (MSC) from pre- to postintervention. Multilevel models were used to examine the extent to which groups differed in the amount of change reported by the participants. After controlling for pretreatment severity, group accounted for 7% of the variability in the GSI and 0% in the MSC. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for the practice of MBSR as well as for research investigating the effects of MBSR and other programs or psychotherapies.