Intervention Treatment for Anxiety and Depression-Induced Emotional Disorders in College Students: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Journal of Engineering and Science in Medical Diagnostics and Therapy August 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1115/1.4064345 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 50 |
| Population | College students with GAD-7 scores above 7 and SDS scores of 50 or higher |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | 8-week training program |
| Measures | Generalized anxiety disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, self-rating depression scale (SDS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), five-facet mindfulness questionnaire (FFMQ) |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | An eight-week MBSR program reduced anxiety and depression symptoms and improved sleep quality in college students, with the MBSR group showing lower GAD-7 (5.46±2.98), lower SDS (45.32±6.01), lower PSQI (5.26±1.88), and higher FFMQ (124.64±10.72) scores than the control group and pre-experiment values. The authors conclude MBSR can be promoted and applied in practice. |
Abstract
Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on relieving symptoms of emotional disorders caused by anxiety and depression in college students. Fifty college students with generalized anxiety disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale scores >7 and self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores ≥50 were randomly divided into a blank group and an MBSR group. The MBSR group completed an eight-week training program, which included activities such as breath awareness and body scanning. The GAD-7 scale, SDS, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and five-facet mindfulness questionnaire (FFMQ) scores were compared between the two groups before and after the experiment. After the experiment, the MBSR group showed a significant improvement in mindfulness levels as it had a FFMQ score of 124.64±10.72 (p < 0.05 compared to the pre-experiment and blank group). The GAD-7 scale score was 5.46±2.98, and the SDS score was 45.32 ± 6.01, indicating that both anxiety and depression symptoms were relieved. The sleep quality improved as the PSQI score decreased to 5.26 ± 1.88 (p < 0.05 compared to the pre-experiment and blank group). MBSR is beneficial in reducing anxiety and depression among college students, improving sleep quality, and has a certain effect on symptoms of emotional disorders. It can be promoted and applied in practice.