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A mindfulness-based intervention to increase resilience to stress in university students (the Mindful Student Study): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial.
Galante, J, Dufour, G, Vainre, M, Wagner, AP, Stochl, J, Benton, A, Lathia, N, Howarth, E, Jones, PB
The Lancet. Public health. 2018;3(2):e72-e81
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There has been a recent increase in students accessing university counselling services, though the reasons for this are currently unclear. Mindfulness-based stress reduction has gained increased attention as evidence has shown mindfulness training can improve anxiety and depression. The aim of this trial was to therefore assess whether a mindfulness course, Mindfulness Skills for Students (MSS), would improve university students’ resilience to stress. Participants were randomly assigned to either enrol in the 8-week MSS course alongside mental health support or receive mental health support alone. A total of 449 participants completed the study and self-reported psychological distress was the primary outcome. Students enrolled in MSS showed reduced distress scores during the examination period compared with those receiving support as usual. Based on these results, the authors conclude that offering mindfulness training could be an effective, feasible component of a wider university mental health strategies. Further controlled studies are required to better understand preventative mental health interventions for students.
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rising number of young people going to university has led to concerns about an increasing demand for student mental health services. We aimed to assess whether provision of mindfulness courses to university students would improve their resilience to stress. METHODS We did this pragmatic randomised controlled trial at the University of Cambridge, UK. Students aged 18 years or older with no severe mental illness or crisis (self-assessed) were randomly assigned (1:1), via remote survey software using computer-generated random numbers, to receive either an 8 week mindfulness course adapted for university students (Mindfulness Skills for Students [MSS]) plus mental health support as usual, or mental health support as usual alone. Participants and the study management team were aware of group allocation, but allocation was concealed from the researchers, outcome assessors, and study statistician. The primary outcome was self-reported psychological distress during the examination period, as measured with the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure (CORE-OM), with higher scores indicating more distress. The primary analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with the Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN12615001160527. FINDINGS Between Sept 28, 2015, and Jan 15, 2016, we randomly assigned 616 students to the MSS group (n=309) or the support as usual group (n=307). 453 (74%) participants completed the CORE-OM during the examination period and 182 (59%) MSS participants completed at least half of the course. MSS reduced distress scores during the examination period compared with support as usual, with mean CORE-OM scores of 0·87 (SD 0·50) in 237 MSS participants versus 1·11 (0·57) in 216 support as usual participants (adjusted mean difference -0·14, 95% CI -0·22 to -0·06; p=0·001), showing a moderate effect size (β -0·44, 95% CI -0·60 to -0·29; p<0·0001). 123 (57%) of 214 participants in the support as usual group had distress scores above an accepted clinical threshold compared with 88 (37%) of 235 participants in the MSS group. On average, six students (95% CI four to ten) needed to be offered the MSS course to prevent one from experiencing clinical levels of distress. No participants had adverse reactions related to self-harm, suicidality, or harm to others. INTERPRETATION Our findings show that provision of mindfulness training could be an effective component of a wider student mental health strategy. Further comparative effectiveness research with inclusion of controls for non-specific effects is needed to define a range of additional, effective interventions to increase resilience to stress in university students. FUNDING University of Cambridge and National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care East of England.
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Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy on Work Stress and Mental Health of Psychiatric Nurses.
Yang, J, Tang, S, Zhou, W
Psychiatria Danubina. 2018;30(2):189-196
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Many studies have found mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy to significantly reduce stress levels and enhance wellbeing. Among healthcare practitioners, psychiatric nurses experience higher stress and poorer mental health. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine the effects of MBSR on the mental health of 100 psychiatric nurses in China. Nurses were randomised to either receive psychological support including MBSR or to receive psychological support without MBSR weekly. Mental health assessments were taken at baseline and completion of the intervention. This study found that while all participants showed improvements in mental health, those receiving MBSR experienced significant improvement compared with the control group. Based on these results the authors conclude that MBSR therapy is conducive to reducing work-related stress of psychiatric nurses.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychiatric nurses are a special group of nursing staff, they experience greater work stress and lower mental health levels than regular nurses. In order to address this problem, the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy on work stress and mental health of psychiatric nurses is investigated in this study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS From August 2017 to November 2017, 100 psychiatric nurses, including 68 females and 32 males, were selected as participants from three hospitals in Hunan Province of China. They were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups, with 50 respondents in each group. MBSR therapy was used as psychological intervention in the intervention group. Before and after the intervention, the two groups were assessed with the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Nursing Stress Scale. RESULTS (1) After the intervention, the SCL-90 score of the intervention group decrease significantly, and a statistically significant difference is observed with the figure before the intervention (P<0.001). No statistically significant difference is found in the control group (P>0.05). (2) After the intervention, the SDS and SAS scores of the intervention group decrease significantly, and a statistically significant difference is observed with the figures before the intervention (P<0.001). No statistically significant difference is found in the control group (P>0.05). (3) After the intervention, the Nursing Stress Scale score of the intervention group Nursing Stress Scale decrease significantly, and a statistically significant difference is observed with the figure before the intervention (P<0.001). No statistically significant difference is found in the control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS MBSR therapy can reduce work stress, anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions among psychiatric nurses and improve their mental health.