Mediating Effects of Mindfulness Compassion-based Peer Counseling Program for Breast Cancer Survivors: From Mindfulness, Compassion to Others to Depression Reduction.
Fei-Hsiu Hsiao, Chiao Lo, Chiun-Sheng Huang, Wen-Hung Kuo, Feng-Ying Huang, Yu-Ting Chen, Chia-Chen Hsieh
Psychosocial Intervention March 5, 2026 DOI: 10.5093/pi2026a6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Breast cancer survivors diagnosed with breast cancer who had completed treatment for at least one year, recruited from an outpatient department breast center and a non-profit organization, serving as peer counselors |
| Intervention | Body-mind-spirit group therapy |
| Duration | 8-month study; 8 weekly group therapy sessions |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Breast neoplasms Empathy Peer group Quality of life Adult Middle aged Female Cancer survivors Breast cancer Depressive symptoms Meaning in life Self-compassion Body-mind-spirit Peer counseling program Compassion from others Compassion to others |
| Key findings | Both groups improved similarly in general quality-of-life functioning, but the mindfulness compassion-based program produced greater improvement in quality-of-life symptom distress. Within the MC-BMS group, depressive symptoms, search for meaning, and mindfulness improved significantly; the BMS group improved in global health and breast cancer-related functioning. The authors report serial mediation pathways linking increased mindfulness to greater self-compassion, compassion to others, reduced anxiety, enhanced quality of life, and ultimately reduced depression. |
Abstract
Objective: The study aimed to test a mindfulness compassion-based intervention for breast cancer survivors serving as peer counselors, exploring whether mindfulness influenced depressive symptoms via a serial pathway of self-compassion, compassion to others, anxiety reduction, and improved quality of life.
Method: This 8-month study adopted the randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. Survivors who are diagnosed with breast and complete treatments for at least one year were recruited from outpatient department of the General Hospital Breast Center and non-profit organization. They were randomly assigned into MC-BMS experimental group (the 8 weekly mindfulness compassion-based integrated with body-mind-spirit group therapy), and BMS control group (8 weekly body-mind-spirit group therapy).
Results: There was a similarity in increasing general QOL functioning between the BMS and MC-BMS groups. The better improvements in QOL symptoms distress were more favored in MC-BMS than BMS groups. For within-group analyses, significant improvements in the MC-BMS group were depressive symptoms, search for meaning, mindfulness, while the BMS group showed significant improvements in global health, and breast cancer-related functioning. The three serial mediation pathways indicated that increases in mindfulness predicted greater self-compassion, which was associated with increased compassion to others. This, in turn, led to reduced anxiety, enhanced quality of life and breast cancer-related functioning, and ultimately, reduced depression.
Conclusions: Enhancing mindfulness and compassionate processes in peer-counselor training serve a central role in improving anxiety and functional quality of life, thereby alleviating depressive symptoms in breast cancer survivors.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators The Journal of Positive Psychology April 11, 2012
- Compassion as a Skill: A Comparison of Contemplative and Evolution-Based Approaches Mindfulness August 3, 2023
- Weekly Change in Mindfulness and Perceived Stress in a Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction Program Journal of Clinical Psychology July 1, 2012