Abstract P2016: Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a 4-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program for young women in Puerto Rico

Background: Young women in Puerto Rico (PR) experience a high burden of psychological distress, a non-traditional risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Mindfulness practice may help reduce psychological distress and improve health behaviors, benefiting cardiovascular health. However, conventional 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programs’ time requirements and in-person format pose participation barriers. We evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual, 4-week MBSR program tailored for young PR women and explored post-intervention changes in distress and health behaviors.

Methods: Participants (n=24; mean age=25.7y±3.1) were PR women with elevated stress and no severe depression or self-harm thoughts. Recruitment (February 2024) was through social media and email blasts. The program consisted of weekly group sessions and daily at-home practice. Feasibility was measured through recruitment, enrollment, retention, attendance, and at-home practice. Acceptability was assessed via satisfaction ratings. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, perceived stress, emotional eating, and physical activity were assessed through validated scales at baseline, post-intervention, and 2-mo. Analyses included paired t-tests and McNemar tests for comparisons between baseline vs. post-intervention and baseline vs. 2-mo.

Results: Recruitment, enrollment, and retention rates were 66%, 100%, and 96%, respectively. Median number of sessions attended was 4; 84% attended all sessions. Half of the participants practiced at-home exercises > 3-4 times/week; frequency declined at 2-mo. Participants were very/somewhat satisfied (96%) with the intervention. There were significant reductions in depression (-5.1; p<0.01), anxiety (-3.0; p<0.01), PTSD (-1.8; p<0.01), and stress (-2.7; p<0.01) symptom scores at post-intervention (vs. baseline). These differences remained at 2-mo. There was a significant decrease in emotional eating scores at 2-mo (-0.2; p=0.03) and a marginal increase in the proportion of participants meeting the guidelines of 150min/week of physical activity at post-intervention (38% vs. 50%; p=0.08).

Conclusion: This 4-week virtual MBSR program had good feasibility and acceptability among PR women, with the potential to reduce psychological distress and emotional eating. Strategies are needed to boost at-home mindfulness practice. Future studies should assess how 4-week MBSR programs may improve cardiovascular health.