The effects of mindfulness meditation versus CBT for anxiety on emotional distress and attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment: a semi-randomized trial
Open accessAbstract
Older adults often avoid seeking psychological treatment, thus challenging their ability to cope effectively with anxiety, stress, and depression. The current study aimed to compare the effects of a mindfulness intervention with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on measures of emotional distress and attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment among older adults. Twenty-four seniors were assigned to three groups: (1) Mindfulness-based intervention for seniors (MBIS), (2) CBT for anxiety, or (3) a care-as-usual control group. Participants in the two intervention groups of eight weekly sessions were randomly assigned. Results showed that attitudes toward seeking psychological treatment and depression, anxiety, and worry levels were evaluated before and after the interventions. Following both interventions, participants considered the prospect of utilizing psychological treatment more positively, whereas no changes were observed in the control group. Interestingly, worry levels were eased only in the MBIS group, and anxiety levels were eased only in the CBT group. Our findings support the understanding that cognitive group interventions can effectively achieve their intended aim (decreasing worry or anxiety) and positively impact attitudes toward psychological treatment. Trial registration: clinicaltrials, NCT04165005, 15/11/19.
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The FFMQ score across groups was around 63, comparable to a previous study that found a null effect among older adults (score around 65).
“In the current study, the FFMQ score across groups was around 63, which is comparable to the scores in a previous study that also found a null effect among older adults (a score of around 65) [59].”
From Effectiveness of an age-modified mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in improving mental health in older people with depressive symptoms: a non-randomised controlled trial. (2025) · cites this paper as [59]
The Discussion reports that the mindfulness intervention did not diminish anxiety or significantly improve depression in older adults, supporting the null-effect portion. But it also states that the study did not measure mindfulness with a questionnaire, so it cannot support the attributed FFMQ score of around 65 or the score comparison. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAnother study on mindfulness-based intervention for older adults also observed no significant effects on anxiety symptoms.
“However, the current age-modified MBCT did not show significant effects on anxiety symptoms, which has been observed in another study on mindfulness-based intervention for older adults [59].”
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- Authors
- Aisenberg-Shafran, D., & Shturm, L.
- Affiliations
- Ruppin Academic Center (IL)
- Corresponding author
- Aisenberg-Shafran, Daniela
- Venue
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2022-11-16
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 19711-19711
- ISSN
- 2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC9668224
- OpenAlex
- W4309330568
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4
- FWCI
- 3.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- mindfulness meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy, anxiety, emotional distress, help-seeking, older adults, depression, worry, treatment avoidance
- MeSH terms
- Psychological Distress, Aged, Anxiety, Humans, Mental Health, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Meditation, Mindfulness
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