Psychological Processes and Symptom Outcomes in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Cancer Survivors: A Pilot
Kelly Chinh1, Catherine E Mosher1, Linda F Brown2
1Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN.
Mindfulness
|January 18, 2021
Summary
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) improved mindfulness and self-compassion in cancer survivors. Specific mindfulness facets, like nonjudging and acting with awareness, were linked to reduced sleep disturbance and emotional distress, respectively.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Oncology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Mindfulness-based interventions show promise for managing cancer survivor symptoms.
- Understanding the psychological mechanisms of these interventions is crucial for optimizing their effectiveness and cost-efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on psychological processes in cancer survivors with persistent fatigue.
- To examine the association between changes in mindfulness facets, self-compassion, and psychological inflexibility with symptom outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 35 persistently fatigued cancer survivors.
- Participants were assigned to either MBSR or a waitlist control group.
- Self-report measures assessed psychological processes and symptoms at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up.
Main Results:
- The MBSR group showed significant increases in specific mindfulness facets (observing, acting with awareness, nonjudging) and self-compassion compared to the waitlist control.
- Increased nonjudging was associated with reduced sleep disturbance (β = -.39, p = .003).
- Increased acting with awareness was associated with reduced emotional distress (β = -.36, p = .003).
Conclusions:
- Findings highlight specific psychological processes, namely nonjudging and acting with awareness, that may mediate the benefits of MBSR for cancer survivors.
- These identified mechanisms can inform the development of targeted strategies to enhance MBSR efficacy for cancer-related symptoms.
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