Decreased symptoms of depression after mindfulness-based stress reduction: potential moderating effects of religiosity, spirituality, trait mindfulness, sex, and age.
Jeffrey M Greeson, Moria J Smoski, Edward C Suarez, Jeffrey Brantley, Andrew G Ekblad, Thomas R Lynch, Ruth Quillian Wolever
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine February 19, 2015 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2014.0285 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Open trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 322 |
| Population | Adults enrolled in an 8-week community-based MBSR program |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | 8-week program |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Stress, psychological Spirituality Religion Adult Middle aged Female |
| Key findings | Depressive symptom severity decreased significantly after MBSR in the full sample (d=0.57), and moderation analyses found no significant differences in symptom change by spirituality, religiosity, trait mindfulness, sex, or age. After adjustment, changes in spirituality (β=-0.15) and mindfulness (β=-0.17) each uniquely explained variance in post-MBSR depressive symptoms. |
Abstract
Objective: Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a secular meditation training program that reduces depressive symptoms. Little is known, however, about the degree to which a participant's spiritual and religious background, or other demographic characteristics associated with risk for depression, may affect the effectiveness of MBSR. Therefore, this study tested whether individual differences in religiosity, spirituality, motivation for spiritual growth, trait mindfulness, sex, and age affect MBSR effectiveness.
Methods: As part of an open trial, multiple regression was used to analyze variation in depressive symptom outcomes among 322 adults who enrolled in an 8-week, community-based MBSR program.
Results: As hypothesized, depressive symptom severity decreased significantly in the full study sample (d=0.57; p<0.01). After adjustment for baseline symptom severity, moderation analyses revealed no significant differences in the change in depressive symptoms following MBSR as a function of spirituality, religiosity, trait mindfulness, or demographic variables. Paired t tests found consistent, statistically significant (p<0.01) reductions in depressive symptoms across all subgroups by religious affiliation, intention for spiritual growth, sex, and baseline symptom severity. After adjustment for baseline symptom scores, age, sex, and religious affiliation, a significant proportion of variance in post-MBSR depressive symptoms was uniquely explained by changes in both spirituality (β=-0.15; p=0.006) and mindfulness (β=-0.17; p<0.001).
Conclusions: These findings suggest that MBSR, a secular meditation training program, is associated with improved depressive symptoms regardless of affiliation with a religion, sense of spirituality, trait level of mindfulness before MBSR training, sex, or age. Increases in both mindfulness and daily spiritual experiences uniquely explained improvement in depressive symptoms.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 27
- Individual participant data systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials assessing adult mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in non-clinical settings. Nature Mental Health July 10, 2023
- Brief mindfulness training reduces salivary IL-6 and TNF-α in young women with depressive symptomatology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 9, 2016
- Loving-Kindness Meditation to Target Affect in Mood Disorders: A Proof-of-Concept Study Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2015
- Mindfulness meditation experiences of novice practitioners in an online intervention: Trajectories, predictors, and challenges. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being February 1, 2022
- The effect of ten versus twenty minutes of mindfulness meditation on state mindfulness and affect. Scientific Reports November 24, 2023
and 22 more in the library
Cites 20
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression August 21, 2006
- The meeting of meditative disciplines and western psychology: A mutually enriching dialogue. American Psychologist 2006
- Defining mindfulness by how poorly I think I pay attention during everyday awareness and other intractable problems for psychology's (re)invention of mindfulness: Comment on Brown et al. (2011). Psychological Assessment 2011
- Stress Reduction through Mindfulness Meditation Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics February 18, 2010
and 15 more in the library