Acceptability and Feasibility of an In-person 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Program Among Undergraduates

Conditions studied

Depression/Anxiety

About this study

Mental health among university students has emerged as a significant global issue. Recent meta-analyses reveal that 25% of students experience depressive symptoms and 14% exhibit suicidal behaviors. A study involving 19 universities across 8 countries found that 31.4% reported psychiatric disorders in the past year, particularly major depressive episodes and anxiety disorders. In Chile, research on university mental health is limited. A 2014 study at Universidad Austral reported a 27% prevalence of depression and a 5.3% risk of moderate to severe suicide risk. The "First National Survey of University Mental Health" in 2019 revealed that 46% of students had depressive symptoms, while health surveys from Universidad de los Andes in 2020 and 2022 showed a decrease in these symptoms, although suicide risk remained high. Given this situation, preventive interventions are urgently needed. "Mindfulness-Based Interventions" (MBIs) have shown effectiveness in university settings. Mindfulness, defined by Jon Kabat-Zinn, involves deliberate, non-judgmental attention to the present moment. Programs like "Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction" (MBSR) have proven effective in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Studies indicate that MBIs can effectively alleviate mental health symptoms in university populations. Some of the MBIs include "Mindful Mood Balance" (MMB) and "Mindfulness Skills for Students". The latter has shown effectiveness in reducing depressive and anxious symptoms among university students. A 2021 pilot study at Universidad de los Andes on an online 8-session intervention combining mindfulness with cognitive-behavioral techniques yielded positive results in reducing symptoms and enhancing students' quality of life. In the current proposal we want to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the "Mindfulness Skills for Students" program delivered in-person by two trained facilitators. Additionally, we want to explore the efficacy of this intervention in reducing depressive, anxious, and stress symptoms among undergraduate students at Universidad de los Andes, using a quasi-experimental study design.

Interventions

• Behavioral: Mindfulness in Students — The mindfulness intervention includes eight 90-minute group sessions held weekly at Universidad de los Andes, co-facilitated by two instructors. One leads the activities, while the other assists with technical aspects, monitors adverse events, and provides participant support. Participants will receive mindfulness worksheets and are required to practice at home for 15 minutes daily. They will have access to an online platform with audiovisual materials to guide their practice and will complete home practice logs online. Skills taught include sitting meditation (focused on breathing, thoughts, emotions, or sensations), body scan meditation, standing meditation, and mindfulness of daily activities. Group discussions will cover topics such as defining mindfulness, managing stress and pain, the difference between mindfulness and being on 'autopilot,' and how perceptions affect stress, as well as the relationship between pain and suffering, and the acceptance of unwanted experiences.

Primary outcomes

• Acceptability Assessment (through study completion, an average of 2 year)
• Feasibility Assessment: Number of participants recruited (through study completion, an average of 2 year)
• Feasibility Assessment: Recruitment time for completion (through study completion, an average of 2 year)
• Feasibility Assessment: Evaluation of data collection and results. (through study completion, an average of 2 year)
• Feasibility Assessment: Evaluation of the acceptability of the intervention (through study completion, an average of 2 year)
• Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) (through study completion, an average of 2 year)

Eligibility information

Study locations

• Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan 7620086 Chile