Mindfulness‐based Coping with University Life: A Non‐randomized Wait‐list‐controlled Pilot Evaluation
Siobhan Lynch, Marie-Louise Gander, Niko Kohls, Brigitte Kudielka, Harald Walach
Stress and Health December 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1002/smi.1382 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Non-randomized wait-list-controlled pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 16 |
| Population | University students from the University of Northampton |
| Duration | 8-week programme; measures taken before and immediately after |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Within the MBCUL group, perceived stress and anxiety decreased significantly (d = 1.06 and 1.04, respectively), while depression did not change significantly; personally relevant change increased (d = 2.63) and mindfulness trended upward. No significant intergroup differences or changes in cortisol/alpha-amylase profiles were observed. |
Abstract
AbstractThe aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of implementing a new 8‐week mindfulness‐based programme, ‘Mindfulness‐Based Coping with University Life’ (MBCUL), specifically tailored to the needs and demand of students and to explore its impact in a pilot evaluation. Participants were drawn from the University of Northampton (MBCUL N = 10; control N = 6). A non‐randomized wait‐list‐controlled design was employed. Measures examined anxiety and depression, perceived stress, mindfulness and personally relevant change before and immediately after the programme. The diurnal profile of salivary cortisol and alpha‐amylase level was collected for two consecutive days. No significant intergroup differences were observed on any of the measures at either time point. However, significant change was observed for the MBCUL group in terms of perceived stress (d = 1.06; z = −2.25, p = 0.03), anxiety (d = 1.04; z = −2.14, p = 0.03), depression (d = 0.52; z = −0.69, p = 0.5) and personally relevant change (d = 2.63; z = −2.68, p = 0.01), along with an increase in mindfulness (d = 1.06; z = −1.89, p = 0.06). In contrast, no significant change was found in the daily profiles of cortisol and alpha‐amylase. The data from this pilot tentatively suggest that MBCUL appears to be a promising programme that warrants further evaluation using a randomized study with a larger sample size. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.