Effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction in a community sample over 2 years.
Laura Madson, Beverly Klug, Linda Madson, Tamara Stimatze, Kerri Eness-Potter, Justin MacDonald
Annals of Clinical Psychiatry February 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1177/154733251803000108 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Longitudinal observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 247 |
| Population | Community sample of self-referred adults |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | 8-week program with 2-year follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Longitudinal studies Stress, psychological Adult Middle aged Female Independent living |
| Key findings | Participants reported significantly improved depression and anxiety symptoms, increased perceived wellness, and increased mindfulness after an 8-week MBSR program, and these improvements persisted for two years. Continued home practice correlated with greater mindfulness, which was associated with improved mental health and wellness. |
Abstract
Background: Although numerous studies have demonstrated that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) improves clinical and nonclinical outcomes, few studies have followed MBSR participants for >12 months, and few have analyzed post-intervention home practice.
Methods: We followed a community sample of 247 self-referred adults for 2 years after completion of an 8-week MBSR program. Dependent variables, including self-reported anxiety, depression, perceived wellness, mindfulness, and duration and frequency of continued home practice, were measured before and after the program and every 6 months after.
Results: Participants reported significantly improved symptoms of depression and anxiety, increased perceived wellness, and increased mindfulness after the 8-week intervention compared with preintervention reports. These improvements persisted for 2 years. Correlations between post-intervention home practice and mindfulness indicated that individuals who continued to practice developed greater mindfulness, which was associated with improved mental health and wellness.
Conclusions: Participants who completed the MBSR program reported significant improvements in anxiety, depression, perceived wellness, and mindfulness during the program.