The Effect of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program on Quality of Life, Life Satisfaction, Sleep Quality, and Mental Well-Being in Menopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

An 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program improved quality of life, life satisfaction, and mental well-being, and reduced sleep disturbances in menopausal women. In a randomized controlled trial at a primary healthcare center in Türkiye, 84 menopausal women were assigned to MBSR (n=43) or a no-intervention control (n=41). The intervention group showed significant improvements on the Utian Quality of Life Scale, Riverside Life Satisfaction Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale compared with controls. Within the MBSR group all outcomes improved significantly, while the control group showed no significant changes. MBSR may offer a beneficial non-pharmacological approach for managing menopausal symptoms.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Menopause affects nearly one-third of women's lives and is associated with a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms-including sleep disturbances, mood fluctuations, and reduced quality of life-that represent a significant public health concern. While pharmacological treatments carry well-documented risks, evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) remain understudied in this population, particularly with respect to multiple psychosocial outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on quality of life, life satisfaction, sleep quality, and mental well-being among menopausal women. A randomized controlled trial with a pretest-posttest control group design. The study was conducted between February 28 and December 22, 2025, at a primary healthcare center in Türkiye. A total of 84 menopausal women were included (intervention: n = 43; control: n = 41). Data were collected using the Utian Quality of Life Scale, Riverside Life Satisfaction Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. The intervention group participated in an 8-week MBSR program, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 26.0). Compared with the control group, participants in the MBSR group demonstrated significant improvements in quality of life, life satisfaction, and mental well-being, along with significant reductions in sleep disturbances (p < 0.001). Within-group analyses showed significant improvements across all outcomes in the intervention group (p < 0.001), whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group (p > 0.05). The MBSR program was associated with improvements in psychosocial well-being and sleep quality among menopausal women. These findings suggest that MBSR may be a beneficial non-pharmacological approach for managing menopausal symptoms.