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.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Effect of a mindfulness program on stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, social support, and life satisfaction: a quasi-experimental study in college students. Frontiers in Psychology 2025
- Rumination and alexithymia serially mediate the relationship between mindfulness and anxiety symptoms in Chinese university students. Scientific Reports July 16, 2025