Using mindfulness-based stress reduction group therapy to reduce perceived stress of vulnerable women in south of Iran.
Sedigheh Khodabandeh Shahraki, Hamideh Adelian, Sakineh Miri, Jamileh Farokhzadian
Psychology, Health & Medicine March 2023 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2022.2055771 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 63 |
| Population | Vulnerable women referred to two drop-in centers in southeastern Iran |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group therapy |
| Duration | Eight 90-minute sessions; follow-up one month after the intervention |
| Measures | Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Drop-in center Group therapy Perceived stress Vulnerable women |
| Key findings | Perceived stress scores fell significantly in the MBSR group (30.20 ± 2.89) compared with the control group (37.96 ± 4.18) one month after the intervention, while pre-test scores did not differ significantly between groups. The authors recommend that counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists conduct MBSR group therapy to reduce perceived stress in vulnerable women. |
Abstract
Provision of educational and health services to vulnerable women in drop-in centers can reduce their traumas. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group therapy is a psychological intervention to reduce perceived stress these women. This quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MBSR group therapy in the perceived stress of 63 vulnerable women who referred to two drop-in centers in southeastern Iran. The participants were assigned into the intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 33) groups. The intervention group members were required to attend the MBSR intervention held in eight 90-minute sessions. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was administered to collect data before and one month after the MBSR. Based on the findings, the pre-test scores of perceived stress were not significantly different between the intervention (38.16 ± 6.04) and control (39.06 ± 5.30) groups (t = -0.62, p = 0.53). However, the perceived stress scores reduced significantly in the intervention group (30.20 ± 2.89) than the control group scores (37.96 ± 4.18) in the posttest (t = -8.35, P = 0.001). Given the significant reduction of perceived stress in participants after attending the MBSR group therapy, expert counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists are recommended to conduct this therapy to reduce perceived stress in vulnerable women.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Online mindfulness-based vs. cognitive-behavioural stress reduction for medical students: A randomized controlled trial. Psychiatry Research July 11, 2025
- Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on ICU nurses' resilience and well-being. Intensive & critical care nursing November 23, 2025
- Effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on resilience of junior helper school of public health, Thailand Journal of Education and Health Promotion July 12, 2026
Cites 10
- A mindfulness-based intervention to increase resilience to stress in university students (the Mindful Student Study): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial The Lancet Public Health December 18, 2017
- The effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on resilience of vulnerable women at drop-in centers in the southeast of Iran BMC Women's Health June 27, 2021
- The use of modified Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy programme for family caregivers of people living with dementia: a feasibility study. Asian Nursing Research September 12, 2020
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Group Counseling on Psychological and Inflammatory Responses of the Women With Breast Cancer Integrative Cancer Therapies 2020
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for sexuality (MBCT-S) improves sexual functioning and intimacy among older women with epilepsy: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. Seizure November 9, 2019
and 5 more in the library