Examining the impact of web-based mindfulness on undergraduate student’s quality of life: a randomized controlled trial
Farah Ahmad, Christo El Morr, Paul Ritvo, MVC Team, Sahir Abbas, Yvonne M. Bohr, Manuela Ferrari, Wai Lun Alan Fung, Louise Hartley, Amin Mawani, Kwame Julius McKenzie, Jan E. Odai
BMC Digital Health July 3, 2023 DOI: 10.1186/s44247-023-00023-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 160 |
| Population | Undergraduate students at a large Canadian university (32 males, 125 females, 2 other gender; mean age 22.6 years; 57.2% born in Canada) |
| Intervention | anonymous peer-to-peer discussion forums |
| Duration | 8-week intervention with follow-up at 8 weeks |
| Measures | 16-item Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | The 8-week web-based mindfulness virtual community intervention was associated with better quality of life at follow-up compared with control. Quality-of-life scores declined in the control group during the exam period while the intervention group showed a slight increase; the adjusted between-group difference was statistically significant (beta = -2.24, P = .03). |
Abstract
Abstract Background Evidence shows that mindfulness-based programs reduce levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Yet, web-based mindfulness has been less studied, especially among university students. We developed a student-centered web-based mindfulness virtual community (MVC) intervention informed by cognitive-behavioral-therapy constructs. MVC comprised of (1) 12 online video-based modules (psychoeducation and practice), (2) anonymous peer-to-peer discussion forums, and (3) anonymous, group-based, 20-min live video conferences by a trained moderator. While the intervention was found effective in reducing anxiety and depression in a randomized controlled trial (RCT), the impact on students’ quality of life remained to be examined. The reported study examined the impact of 8-week long web-based MVC intervention on the quality of life of undergraduate students compared to those in the control group. Participants were recruited from a large Canadian university into a two-arm RCT (N = 160) and randomly allocated to the web-based MVC intervention (n = 80) or to the control (n = 80) group. Participants completed online survey at baseline (T1) and at 8-week (T2). The outcome of quality of life was measured by 16-item Quality of Life Scale (QOLS). The generalized estimation equation (GEE) method with AR(1) covariance structures was used, adjusting for potential covariates.
Results: At the baseline 159 students completed the survey.
Participants: (32 males, 125 females, 2 other gender) had a mean age of 22.6 years, 57.2% were born in Canada. Participants in MVC (n = 79) and control (n = 80) groups were similar in sociodemographic characteristics except hours of volunteer work. At T2 that coincided with students’ exam period, QOLS score for the control group declined while MVC group had a slight increase. Between-group analysis for QOLS score-change showed a significantly higher score at T2 for MVC group compared to the control (81.64, SD = 14.63 vs. 72.9, SD = 17.26, P < 0.001). Per adjusted GEE analysis, the higher QOLS score in MVC compared to the control group was statistically significant ( $$\upbeta$$ β = -2.24, P = .03).
Conclusions: Web-based MVC intervention helped the students to have better quality of life, compared to the control group, at 8-week follow-up despite exam stress. Future research with a longer follow-up would advance understanding. Trial registration https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12249616 Registration Date: 21/06/2017.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 15
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Neural mechanisms of symptom improvements in generalized anxiety disorder following mindfulness training NeuroImage: Clinical 2013
- A Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Student Depression, Anxiety, and Stress: Randomized Controlled Trial JMIR Mental Health December 2, 2020
and 10 more in the library