A non-randomized comparison of mindfulness-based stress reduction and healing arts programs for facilitating post-traumatic growth and spirituality in cancer outpatients.
Sheila N. Garland, Linda E. Carlson, Sarah G. Cook, Laura Lansdell, Michael Speca
Supportive Care in Cancer August 2007 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-007-0280-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 104 |
| Population | Cancer outpatients with a variety of diagnoses, mostly female, married, and with breast cancer |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) Healing through the creative arts (HA) |
| Duration | 8-week MBSR program or 6-week HA program |
| Measures | Post-traumatic growth (PTGI-R), Spirituality (FACIT-Sp), Stress (SOSI), Mood disturbance (POMS) |
| Topics | Meditation PTSD |
| Key findings | Both MBSR and HA participants improved significantly over time on post-traumatic growth. MBSR participants showed greater improvement than HA participants in spirituality, anxiety, anger, overall stress symptoms, and mood disturbance. |
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program and a healing through the creative arts (HA) program on measures of post-traumatic growth (PTGI-R), spirituality (FACIT-Sp), stress (SOSI), and mood disturbance (POMS) in cancer patients. A sample of cancer outpatients (MBSR, n = 60; HA, n = 44) with a variety of diagnoses chose to attend either an 8-week MBSR program or a 6-week HA program and were assessed pre- and post-intervention. The majority of participants were female, married, and had breast cancer. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that participants in both groups improved significantly over time on overall post-traumatic growth (p = 0.015). Participants in the MBSR group improved on measures of spirituality more than those in the HA group (p = 0.029). Participants in the MBSR group also showed more improvement than those in HA on measures of anxiety (POMS, p = 0.038), anger (POMS, p = 0.004), overall stress symptoms (SOSI, p = 0.041), and mood disturbance (POMS, p = 0.023). Several main effects of time were also observed in both groups. These results were found despite attrition in both groups. Both programs may improve facilitation of positive growth after traumatic life experiences for those who choose to participate. MBSR may be more helpful than HA in enhancing spirituality and reducing stress, depression, and anger.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 57
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
- Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Stress and Health March 15, 2010
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as a Stress Management Intervention for Healthy Individuals Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine July 22, 2014
- Prospects for a clinical science of mindfulness-based intervention. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Improving Health, Quality of Life, and Social Functioning in Adults Campbell Systematic Reviews 2012
and 52 more in the library
Cites 11
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- A Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Clinical Trial: The Effect of a Mindfulness Meditation-Based Stress Reduction Program on Mood and Symptoms of Stress in Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine September 1, 2000
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- What Do We Really Know About Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction? Psychosomatic Medicine 2002
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction as supportive therapy in cancer care: systematic review Journal of Advanced Nursing September 29, 2005
and 6 more in the library