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Six-year positive effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on mindfulness, coping and well-being in medical and psychology students; Results from a randomized controlled trial.

PloS one
January 1, 2018
Michael de Vibe et al. (6 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to investigate the six-year effects of a seven-week mindfulness-based course on dispositional mindfulness, coping skills, and their association with subjective well-being.

Results Summary

At six-year follow-up, mindfulness training increased well-being, enhanced dispositional mindfulness and problem-focused coping, and reduced avoidance-focused coping. Increases in problem-focused coping predicted greater well-being, even with low adherence to formal practice.

Population

Norwegian medical and psychology students

Effective Dosage

15-hour mindfulness course over seven weeks with booster sessions twice yearly

Duration

Seven weeks (with follow-up over six years)

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
a seven-week mindfulness-based course
increase
well-being
Norwegian medical and psychology students
-
reported increased
#1
mindfulness training
increase
dispositional mindfulness
students
-
reported greater increases in the trajectory of
#2
mindfulness training
increase
problem-focused coping
students
-
reported greater increases in the trajectory of
#3
mindfulness training
decrease
avoidance-focused coping
students
-
reported greater decreases in the trajectory of
#4
-
increase
problem-focused coping
-
-
Increases in
#5
-
increase
well-being
-
-
predicted increases in
#6
Abstract

UNLABELLED: Longitudinal research investigating the enduring impact of mindfulness training is scarce. This study investigates the six-year effects of a seven-week mindfulness-based course, by studying intervention effects in the trajectory of dispositional mindfulness and coping skills, and the association between those change trajectories and subjective well-being at six-year follow-up. 288 Norwegian medical and psychology students participated in a randomized controlled trial. 144 received a 15-hour mindfulness course over seven weeks in the second or third semester with booster sessions twice yearly, while the rest continued their normal study curricula. Outcomes were subjective well-being, and dispositional mindfulness and coping assessed using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and the Ways of Coping Checklist. Analyses were performed for the intention-to-treat sample, using latent growth curve models. At six-year follow-up, students receiving mindfulness training reported increased well-being. Furthermore, they reported greater increases in the trajectory of dispositional mindfulness and problem-focused coping along with greater decreases in the trajectory of avoidance-focused coping. Increases in problem-focused coping predicted increases in well-being. These effects were found despite relatively low levels of adherence to formal mindfulness practice. The findings demonstrate the viability of mindfulness training in the promotion of well-being and adaptive coping, which could contribute to the quality of care given, and to the resilience and persistence of health care professionals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00892138.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Adaptation, PsychologicalAdultFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMindfulnessNorwayStress, PsychologicalStudents, Health OccupationsStudents, MedicalTreatment Adherence and Compliance
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations88
Citations/Year12.6
Relative Citation Ratio7.70
NIH Percentile96.6%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score2.54
Normalized Score0.72
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