An evaluation of a low intensity mHealth enhanced mindfulness intervention for Chinese university students: A randomized controlled trial.
Brian J Hall, Peng Xiong, Xinqi Guo, Elvo Kuai Long Sou, Un I Chou, Zhuozhuo Shen
Psychiatry Research October 2, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.09.060 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 101 |
| Population | Chinese university students (mean age 22.30 ± 2.63, 69.31% female) |
| Interventions | plain-text reminder enhanced text reminder with animal meme |
| Duration | 7 weeks of weekly self-guided practice; outcomes assessed at week 4 and week 7 |
| Measures | Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Single-blind method Stress, psychological Mental health Sleep Telemedicine Students Universities Female Young adult Asian people Mhealth |
| Key findings | Compared with controls, mindfulness-program completers showed significantly reduced depression (Cohen's d=0.83), anxiety (d=0.84), and stress (d=0.75), and improved subjective sleep quality (d=2.00), sleep latency (d=0.55), and habitual sleep efficiency (d=0.86) at week 4, with effects maintained at week 7. The authors suggest low-intensity mindfulness interventions might be useful in university settings. |
Abstract
Mental disorders and sleep dysfunction are common among Chinese university students. This study aimed to evaluate a low cost scalable mindfulness intervention program to improve psychological health and sleep quality among Chinese university students. A randomized controlled trial with 101 university students (mean age 22.30 ± 2.63, 69.31% female) was conducted. Participants were randomized into 4 groups: Group 1: control group (n = 25), Group 2: mindfulness only group (n = 27), Group 3: mindfulness + plain-text reminder group (n = 24), and Group 4: mindfulness + enhanced text reminder with animal meme group (n = 25).The mindfulness intervention consisted of two in-person guided sessions along with weekly self-guided practice for 7 weeks. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to measure depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep dysfunction. After the intervention at week 4, compared to controls, completers in group 2, 3 and 4 (n = 42) showed significantly reduced depression (Cohen's d = 0.83), anxiety (Cohen's d = 0.84), and stress (Cohen's d = 0.75), and improved subjective sleep quality (Cohen's d = 2.00), sleep latency (Cohen's d = 0.55), and habitual sleep efficiency (Cohen's d = 0.86). The effect was maintained at week 7. Low-intensity mindfulness interventions might be a useful intervention program in university settings.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.