The Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Improvement of the Perceived Stress and Symptoms of Depression among Women-Headed Households

Safari, Abdolmahammad; Mohammadzadeh, Jahanshah; Ahmadi, Vahid; Mami, Shahram

doi:10.30473/ijohp.2021.52028.1071

Document Type : research

Authors

¹ . Ph.D. Student Of General Psycology, Islamic Azad University, Ilam Branch, Ilam, Iran

² Associate Professor of Psyhology, Social Science Department, Human Sciences Faculty, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

³ Department of Humanities, Faculty Of Psychology, Ilam Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30473/ijohp.2021.52028.1071

Abstract

Objective: some recent studies suggested the beneficial effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on stress reduction and perceived stress, leading to the improvement of mental disorders caused by stress. Given that female-headed households are one of the most vulnerable groups of society that need to be studied, the aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the reduction of perceived stress and depressive symptoms among this group.
Method: The present study was a semi-experimental study with pretest-posttest and follow-up phase. The study population consisted of 400 female-headed households aged 25 to 50 years covered by Ilam City Relief Committee. The participants were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The perceived stress and depression symptoms were assessed using Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (1983) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (1996), respectively. Mindfulness-based stress reduction program was performed for 8 weeks and all subjects were reassessed after intervention completion.
Results: Both groups had similar characteristics at baseline. The mean preserved stress and depression scores significantly improved in the experimental group after the intervention and at follow-up phase (p<0.001). However, no significant changes were observed in the control group (p=0.49).
Conclusion: Mindfulness-based stress reduction had a positive effect on perceived stress and depressive symptoms in female-headed households. It is also likely that the reduction in stress appraisals can improve psychological well-being and physical health.

Keywords

Article Title [Persian]

اثربخشی کاهش استرس مبتنی بر ذهن آگاهی بر بهبود استرس ادراک شده و علائم افسردگی در زنان سرپرست خانوار

Authors [Persian]

عبدالمحمد صفاری ¹
جهانشاه محمد زاده ²
وحید احمدی ³
شهرام مامی ³

² Associate Professor of Psyhology, Social Science Department, Human Sciences Faculty, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

³ Department of Humanities, Faculty Of Psychology, Ilam Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran

Abstract [Persian]

Objective: some recent evidences have been recently achieved on the beneficial effects of mindfulness based on stress reduction on stress reduction and perceived anxiety and thus improve mental disorders caused by stress. Because women-headed households are one of the groups in the society that need to be studied because of the progressive problems they are experiencing as one of the most affected sections of society, the present study attempted to assess the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction on improvement of the decreased perceived stress and symptoms of depression among this group.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest approach and following-up included 400 women aged 25 to 50 years female-headed households covered by Ilam City Relief Committee. The population was randomly divided into control and experimental groups and the preserved stress and depression situations were assessed using the Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory II respectively. Mindfulness-based stress reduction was implemented as an 8-week training program and all subjects were reassessed after intervention completion.
Results: The baseline characteristics of study subjects in two groups were similar. The mean preserved stress and depression scores improved both significantly in the experiment group after intervention as well as within the follow-up time, however the pointed changes were not revealed in control group.
Conclusion: Mindfulness-based approach to stress reduction had a positive effect on perceived stress and depression symptoms in female-headed households

Keywords [Persian]

افسردگی زنان
استرس
ذهن آگاهی
سلامت

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The Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Improvement of the Perceived Stress and Symptoms of Depression among Women-Headed Households

References

References

Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 6November 2020Pages 71-78

Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 6
November 2020
Pages 71-78