The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Reducing Symptoms and Psychological Acceptance of Individuals with Emotional Breakdown
Donya Fami-Tafreshi, Marzie Hashemi, Mandana Niknam
Journal of Family Relations Studies September 21, 2026 DOI: 10.22098/jfrs.2024.14411.1173 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single-subject experimental design (single baseline type) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 5 |
| Population | Individuals aged 18-38 residing in Tehran who had experienced emotional breakdown in a relationship 6 to 24 months prior |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy |
| Duration | 8 therapy sessions with assessments at baseline, sessions 3, 5, and 8, and a one-month follow-up |
| Measures | Ras Emotional Breakup Scale, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire – Second Version (AAQ-II) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Emotional breakdown Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Psychological acceptance |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy produced significant symptom reduction in individuals with emotional breakdown, with 100% improvement for three participants and 66% for two, but it was not significantly effective on psychological acceptance. The authors conclude the therapy is a promising method for reducing the adverse effects of emotional breakdown. |
Abstract
Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on psychological acceptance and symptom reduction in individuals experiencing emotional breakdown.Methods: The population of this study included all individuals aged between 18 and 38 residing in Tehran during the years 2022-2023 who had experienced emotional breakdown in their relationship between six months to 24 months prior. A single-subject experimental design of a single baseline type was employed. Five participants were selected through convenience sampling from eligible individuals responding to advertisements. Participants were assessed at three baseline stages, during the third, fifth, and eighth therapy sessions, and at a one-month follow-up using the Ras Emotional Breakup Scale and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire – Second Version (AAQ-II). Data was analyzed using graphical analysis, percentage of improvement, and effect size.Results: The results showed that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has a significant effect on individuals with emotional breakdown (PND=100% for three participants and PND=66% for two participants). However, the therapy was not significantly effective on the acceptance variable.Conclusion: The results indicate that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is a promising and effective method for helping individuals suffering from emotional breakdown. This therapy is recommended for reducing the adverse effects of emotional breakdown.
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 |