Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Reducing Anxiety among Adolescents Living with HIV in Nairobi, Kenya: A Mixed- Methods Quasi-Experimental Study
Lydiah Were, Stephen Ngari Ndegwa, Rose Otieno
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science 2026 DOI: 10.47772/ijriss.2026.1017psy0069 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pragmatic mixed-methods quasi-experimental single-group pretest-posttest study Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 54 |
| Population | Adolescents aged 13–19 years living with HIV attending a comprehensive HIV treatment centre in Nairobi County, Kenya |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | Eight-week intervention; anxiety measured before and after participation |
| Measures | Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key findings | Mean anxiety scores on the Beck Anxiety Inventory dropped from 32.91 at baseline to 18.48 after an eight-week MBCT programme, a statistically significant reduction. Qualitative accounts described better emotional regulation, coping, resilience and acceptance of HIV status, and less HIV-related worry, disclosure anxiety and fear of social rejection. The authors conclude MBCT is feasible, culturally adaptable and potentially scalable for routine adolescent HIV care. |
Abstract
Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) face considerable psychosocial challenges that increase their vulnerability to anxiety. HIV-related stigma, disclosure concerns, treatment demands, uncertainty regarding future relationships, and fear of social exclusion contribute significantly to psychological distress. Despite advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART), anxiety remains a major challenge affecting treatment adherence, psychosocial adjustment, and quality of life among adolescents living with HIV. Evidence-based psychological interventions tailored to this population remain limited within HIV care settings in Kenya.
Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in reducing anxiety among adolescents living with HIV attending a comprehensive HIV treatment centre in Nairobi County, Kenya.
Methods: The study employed a pragmatic mixed-methods quasi-experimental single-group pretest-posttest design. Fifty-four adolescents aged 13–19 years living with HIV participated in an eight-week MBCT intervention. Anxiety symptoms were measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) before and after participation in the intervention. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired-samples t-tests, and analysis of variance (ANOVA), while qualitative data obtained through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: The mean anxiety score decreased from 32.91 at baseline to 18.48 following the intervention. Paired-samples t-test results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in anxiety symptoms, t(53) = 10.46, p < .001. Qualitative findings revealed improvements in emotional regulation, self-awareness, coping capacity, resilience, and acceptance of HIV status. Participants also reported reduced HIV-related worry, disclosure anxiety, and fear of social rejection.
Conclusion: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing anxiety among adolescents living with HIV. The findings suggest that MBCT is a feasible, culturally adaptable, and potentially scalable psychosocial intervention that could be integrated into routine adolescent HIV care services to improve psychological wellbeing.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A PILOT STUDY OF GROUP MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) Veterans with chronic combat posttraumatic stress disorder seeking treatment at a VA... | 2013 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual comparison group | n = 37 |
| Being present in the face of existential threat: The role of trait mindfulness in reducing defensive responses to mortality salience. | 2010 | Experimental study | |
| Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief Healthy adults with no prior meditation experience | 2013 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 15 |
| Intensive mindfulness training-related changes in cognitive and emotional experience Community adults | 2009 | Quasi-experimental and longitudinal | n = 69 |
| Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment Volunteers | 2019 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 11 |