Implementation of a Mindfulness Intervention for Women in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder and Its Effects on Depression Symptoms
Abstract
Background: Many women in treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) also experience mental health co-morbidities. Mindfulness intervention has demonstrated effectiveness for improving mental health in the general population, but has not been tested with female populations in OUD treatment. The purpose of this study was to describe characteristics associated with participation in a mindfulness intervention provided to women in treatment for OUD, and also to evaluate the effectiveness of a mindfulness intervention on depression symptoms.Aims: To evaluate participation characteristics associated with a mindfulness intervention and to assess the impact of a mindfulness intervention on depression symptoms for women with OUD.Methods: A secondary data analysis of a mindfulness intervention with women in treatment for OUD was accomplished. Bivariate analysis was conducted to determine any sociodemographic variables associated with intervention participation. Depression scores were assessed pre and post intervention using paired samples t tests for the intervention group (n = 65) and the control group (n = 8).Results: A 45% of women in the study reported moderate to severe depression symptoms at baseline, and 63% reported high levels of childhood trauma. There was a significant decrease in depression scores (M = 3.6 [1.2,6.1]) following the mindfulness intervention for the intervention group (t(64) = 3.1, p = .003). Participants entering the intervention group with moderate to severe depression scores experienced the most significant decrease in depression symptoms (M = 6.6, SD = 13.5), (t(64) = −2.1, p < .05).Conclusions: Women in treatment for OUD experience high levels of depression symptoms and past trauma, and mindfulness is a feasible intervention for OUD populations which may improve depression symptoms.
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A 12-week mindfulness-based parenting intervention for women in treatment for opioid use disorder resulted in significant decreases in depression.
“and significant decreases in depression [26].”
From Mindful moms: acceptability and impact of co-designed and digitally delivered video meditations for pregnant and parenting women with opioid use disorder (2025) · cites this paper as [26]
The findings are consistent with other studies that have demonstrated the positive impact of mindfulness interventions on stress and mindfulness constructs.
“Our findings are consistent with other studies that have demonstrated the positive impact of mindfulness interventions on stress and mindfulness constructs [12,15,16,19,20,25–27,30,32].”
From Mindful moms: acceptability and impact of co-designed and digitally delivered video meditations for pregnant and parenting women with opioid use disorder (2025) · cites this paper as [26]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Alexander, K., Kronk, R., Sekula, K., Short, V., & Abatemarco, D.
- Affiliations
- Thomas Jefferson University (US)
- Duquesne University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Alexander, Karen
- Venue
- Issues in Mental Health Nursing
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2019-05-17
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 690-696
- ISSN
- 0161-2840 (ISSN-L)
- 1096-4673
- OpenAlex
- W2945071940
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4
- FWCI
- 2.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Issues in Mental Health Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau (90CB0190)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Keywords
- mindfulness-based interventions, opioid use disorder, women, depressive symptoms, childhood trauma, addiction treatment, psychiatric comorbidity, feasibility
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Depression, Female, Humans, Opioid-Related Disorders, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Young Adult, Mindfulness
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