Learning to be mindful ─ experiences of mindfulness-based stress reduction for young adults with moderate to severe mental disorders.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the short- and long-term experiences of young adults with moderate to severe mental disorders participating in an MBSR program as a supplementary treatment in psychiatric outpatient care.
Results Summary
The study found that MBSR was experienced as a learning process that improved the ability to cope with emotional stress in daily life, with participants still using skills two years after the program. Limitations include a small sample size and lack of quantitative measures.
Population
Young adults (aged 18-27 years) with moderate to severe mental disorders in psychiatric outpatient care.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified (interviews conducted approximately three months or two years after participation)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | increase | mental health | young adults with mental disorders | - | showed positive effects | #1 |
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | increase | ability to cope with emotional stress in daily life | young adults with moderate to severe mental disorders | - | improved | #2 |
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | increase | learning to pay attention to the body | young adults with moderate to severe mental disorders | - | resulted in a learning process | #3 |
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | increase | regulate emotions | young adults with moderate to severe mental disorders | - | resulted in a learning process | #4 |
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | increase | change of attitude towards oneself | young adults with moderate to severe mental disorders | - | resulted in a learning process | #5 |
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | no change | skills | young adults with moderate to severe mental disorders | two years after the programme | still using skills | #6 |
INTRODUCTION: Mental disorders among young adults are a major health challenge. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has in previous research shown positive effects on mental health. However, research evaluating MBSR for young adults with mental disorders is insufficient and qualitative research exploring experiences of the programme is scarce. The aim of this study was to explore experiences of MBSR as a supplementary treatment in psychiatric outpatient care among young adults with moderate to severe mental disorders, from a short- and long-term perspective. METHOD: Eleven young adults (aged 18-27 years) who had participated in an MBSR programme were interviewed approximately three months or two years later. The analytic method was Grounded Theory. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in a theoretical model including one core category and five categories. The model illustrated a learning process, explaining the participants' short- and long-term experiences of learning to pay attention to the body, regulate emotions, a change of attitude towards oneself, and still using skills two years after the programme. DISCUSSION: The MBSR programme was experienced as a learning process which improved the longstanding ability to cope with emotional stress in daily life. Tailoring MBSR to individual needs may further enhance its effectiveness. CONCLUSION: The experienced short- and long-term health-promotion benefits of an MBSR programme among young adults with mental disorders support its implementation in psychiatric and primary health care. Future research should investigate how to optimise implementation and tailor to individual needs.