Incorporating a Mindfulness-Based Mental Health Intervention on Short-Term Mission Trips
Tracy George, J. Marty Hucks, Tiffany Pressley
Journal of Christian Nursing September 10, 2026 DOI: 10.1097/cnj.0000000000001433 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Descriptive survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Participants at a week-long healthcare mission clinic in Honduras who scored 5 or above on the Stress Visual Numeric Scale |
| Interventions | Scripture mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Duration | 5-minute intervention delivered during a week-long healthcare mission clinic |
| Measures | Stress Visual Numeric Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Participants at a Honduran healthcare mission clinic reported high stress levels, and spontaneous feedback suggested a 5-minute mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention alongside Scripture was helpful. The authors conclude that stress screening and brief intervention can be implemented efficiently in this mission clinic setting. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT: In Honduras, a lack of mental health providers and the difficult terrain limit access to mental health care. During a week-long healthcare mission clinic, nurse practitioners provided Scriptures and a 5-minute mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention to participants who had scored 5 or above (suggesting moderate to high stress) on the Stress Visual Numeric Scale. Spontaneous patient feedback indicated the intervention was helpful. The descriptive survey findings indicate high self-reported stress levels among participants and that stress screening and intervention can be implemented efficiently within a healthcare mission clinic setting.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cites 2
- Breathing Practices for Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Conceptual Framework of Implementation Guidelines Based on a Systematic Review of the Published Literature Brain Sciences December 22, 2023
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction vs Escitalopram for the Treatment of Adults With Anxiety Disorders: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry January 1, 2023