A Test of Feasibility and Acceptability of Online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Women and Men at Risk for High Stress: Pilot Study
Jennifer M Jabson Tree, Joanne Gayle Patterson
JMIR Mental Health August 16, 2019 DOI: 10.2196/15048 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study, pre-post test design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 24 |
| Population | Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in Appalachian Tennessee at high risk for stress |
| Intervention | Online mindfulness-based stress reduction (OMBSR) |
| Duration | 8 weeks, with 12-week follow-up |
| Measures | Cohen Perceived Stress Scale-10, Balsam Daily Experiences with Heterosexism Questionnaire |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Online mindfulness-based stress reduction was feasible and acceptable: 17 of 24 LGB participants completed the 8-week program and 94% did daily mindfulness activities. Perceived stress decreased 23% in women and 40% in men from baseline to postprogram, and women showed a 12% reduction in overall minority stress at 12-week follow-up, with 21% and 20% drops in vigilance and vicarious trauma subscales. The authors suggest OMBSR may help reduce general and minority-specific stress in socially conservative regions lacking antidiscrimination policies. |
Abstract
Background: In conservative and rural areas, where antidiscrimination laws do not exist, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people are at risk for excess stress arising from discrimination. Stress-reducing interventions delivered via innovative channels to overcome access barriers are needed.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of online mindfulness-based stress reduction (OMBSR) with LGB people in Appalachian Tennessee at high risk for stress.
Methods: In 2 pilot studies involving pre-post test designs, participants completed 8 weeks of OMBSR, weekly activity logs, semistructured interviews, and surveys of perceived and minority stress.
Results: Overall, 24 LGB people enrolled in the study and 17 completed OMBSR. In addition, 94% completed some form of mindfulness activities daily, including meditation. Participants enjoyed the program and found it easy to use. Perceived stress (Cohen, perceived stress scale-10) decreased by 23% in women (mean 22.73 vs mean 17.45; t10=3.12; P=.01) and by 40% in men (mean 19.83 vs mean 12.00; t5=3.90; P=.01) between baseline and postprogram. Women demonstrated a 12% reduction in overall minority stress (Balsam, Daily Experiences with Heterosexism Questionnaire) from baseline to 12-week follow-up (mean 1.87 vs mean 1.57; t10=4.12; P=.002). Subscale analyses indicated that women’s stress due to vigilance and vicarious trauma decreased by 21% and 20%, respectively.
Conclusions: OMBSR may be a useful tool to help LGB people reduce general and minority-specific stress in socially conservative regions lacking antidiscrimination policies.
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
Cited by 4
- Prevalence and factors of meditation and yoga practice in the USA: How cancer and anxiety correlate. Supportive Care in Cancer February 13, 2025
- A Daily Digital Mindfulness Meditation to Reduce Stress from Discrimination Among Racially Diverse Sexual and Gender Minorities: Preparation Phase of the Multi-Phase Optimization Strategy (MOST). Mindfulness May 21, 2026
- Using mindfulness-based stress reduction group therapy to reduce perceived stress of vulnerable women in south of Iran. Psychology, Health & Medicine March 2023
- A Mindfulness-Based Intervention to Alleviate Stress From Discrimination Among Young Sexual and Gender Minorities of Color: Protocol for a Pilot Optimization Trial. JMIR Research Protocols January 14, 2022
Cites 4
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Mindfulness online: an evaluation of the feasibility of a web-based mindfulness course for stress, anxiety and depression BMJ Open November 1, 2013
- A pilot study comparing the effects of mindfulness-based and cognitive-behavioral stress reduction. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine April 2008