Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Mental Health, Salivary Cortisol and α-amylase level in students: A Randomized and Parallel-Group Clinical Trial
Shima Shahyad, Reza Mohammadzadeghan, Seyed Hassan Saadat, Boshra Hatef, Gila Pirzad Jahromi, Saba Hassanvandi
preprint DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4486811/v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental trial with pre-test-post-test design and control group Randomized |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | University students in Khoy, Iran in 2021 |
| Measures | Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), salivary cortisol, salivary alpha-amylase, alpha-amylase/cortisol ratio |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | MBSR training improved general health, alpha-amylase levels, and the alpha-amylase/cortisol ratio in the experimental group compared with controls (P < 0.05), but did not affect cortisol levels (P > 0.05). The authors argue that MBSR promoted psychological and some hormonal mental health indicators. |
Abstract
Abstract Background The current trial aimed to assess the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training on the level of mental health, salivary cortisol and α-amylase levels of students.
Methods: This research was an experimental trial with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. The statistical population of the research included all students studying in the universities of Khoy, Iran in 2021. The sample consisted of 30 people who were selected by randomized sampling and were assigned to two experimental and control groups. Stress, anxiety and depression scale (DASS-21), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and saliva samples were passively taken by ELISA laboratory method with special kits. Data analysis was done using an independent t-test and analysis of covariance using IBM-SPSS version 26 software.
Results: The results showed that MBSR training on general health, alpha-amylase level and alpha-amylase/cortisol ratio of experimental group participants was more effective than the control group (P < 0.05). However, it was not effective on students' cortisol levels (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: According to the findings, it can be argued that MBSR training has been able to promote the psychological (DASS and general health) and hormonal (alpha amylase level and alpha-amylase/cortisol ratio) mental health indicators of the experimental group participants compared to the control group.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 15
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- How Does Mindfulness Training Affect Health? A Mindfulness Stress Buffering Account Current Directions in Psychological Science December 1, 2014
- Psychobiological mechanisms underlying the mood benefits of meditation: A narrative review. Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology March 10, 2021
- Meditation interventions efficiently reduce cortisol levels of at-risk samples: a meta-analysis Health Psychology Review July 7, 2020
- Application of mindfulness-based stress reduction to a stress management intervention in a study of a mining sector company. International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics : JOSE December 2018
and 10 more in the library