The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on medical science students’ subjective well-being, psychological distress, and emotion regulation
Zohreh Shahsavari Googhari, F. Hafezi, P. Asgari, A. Heidari
Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences January 26, 2022 DOI: 10.34172/jsums.2022.07 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Semi-experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 45 |
| Population | Female students at Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, academic year 2019-2020, referred to the university counseling center |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) |
| Duration | MBCT: eight 90-minute sessions; ACT: eight 45-minute sessions, both twice a week |
| Measures | Subjective Well-being Scale (SWS), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | MBCT and ACT were each effective in improving subjective well-being and emotion regulation and in reducing psychological distress among female medical students compared with a control group (P<0.001). The authors report no difference between the two therapies in effectiveness. |
Abstract
Background and
Aims: Subjective well-being as a major prerequisite of health ensures mental and physical health, a long life, happiness, improved quality of life, and higher socioeconomic indices. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on subjective well-being, psychological distress, and emotion regulation in medical science students.
Methods: The statistical population of this semi-experimental comprised all female students at Kerman University of Medical Sciences (Iran) in the academic year of 2019-2020. Forty-five students referring to the university counseling center were selected as the sample of the study using convenience sampling and randomly divided into two experimental groups and a control group (n=15 per group). The first and second experimental groups underwent eight 90- and 45-sessions (twice a week) of MBCT and of ACT, respectively. The research instruments included the Subjective Well-being Scale (SWS), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire.
Results: The results showed that MBCT and ACT were effective in improving the components of subjective well-being and emotion regulation in medical students (P<0.001). Moreover, MBCT and ACT significantly reduced the post-test scores of psychological distress subscales in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.001). Finally, no difference was observed between the two therapies in terms of effectiveness.
Conclusion: According to the results, MBCT and ACT effectively promoted female students’ subjective well-being and emotion regulation and alleviated their psychological distress.
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 2
- Effect of online mindfulness-based physical exercise program on psychological well-being and life satisfaction during the Covid-19 pandemic. Current Psychology December 28, 2022
- Effect of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy on Subjective Well-Being and Psychological Distress of Kerman University of Medical Sciences Students Journal of Medical Education May 15, 2022
Cites 11
- Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse JAMA Psychiatry April 28, 2016
- Mindfulness Meditation and Psychopathology Annual Review of Clinical Psychology December 11, 2018
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: Further issues in current evidence and future research. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 1, 2008
- Brief mindfulness-based training and mindfulness trait attenuate psychological stress in university students: a randomized controlled trial BMC Psychology February 1, 2021
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in patients with depression: current perspectives Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment June 1, 2018
and 6 more in the library