Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Live Online During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study
Abstract
Objectives: To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effects of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) live online during the COVID-19 shutdown. Design: Mixed-methods study using a sequential explanatory design. Settings/location: Cohorts 1-4 took place in-person and Cohorts 5-6 took place over Zoom following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subjects: Participants were paying members of the general public enrolled in one of six live MBSR courses. Interventions: All MBSR courses followed the standard 8-week MBSR curriculum, led by experienced instructors. Outcome measures: Feasibility measured via class attendance, acceptability measured via the adapted Treatment Satisfaction Survey, and MBSR course effects measured by a focus group with Cohort 5, and the following assessments completed by all cohorts: Perceived Stress Scale-10, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the 36-item Short Form Survey. Results: 73 adults participated in six live MBSR courses (48 in the four in-person courses; 25 in the two online courses). Most of the participants identified as white, non-Hispanic, middle-aged females, with annual household income >$100,000. Course completion, defined as at least 6/8 classes attended, did not differ between in-person and online cohorts (84.1% versus 67.6%, respectively, p = 0.327). Participants in Cohort 5 who completed the course (n = 10) rated it as very important and useful for stress coping, and reported high likelihood of continuing their mindfulness practice (all ratings: between 8 and 10 on a 1–10 Likert scale), with open-ended responses corroborating their numerical ratings. Focus group (n = 6) responses indicated that online MBSR was positively received, reduced perceived loss of control, and improved quality of life and morale during the pandemic. Conclusions: Delivering MBSR live online can be feasible and acceptable for the general public, and is potentially beneficial, including during the social upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic. Online delivery could help expand access to MBSR and address health inequities.
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In response to the limitations of managers' timetables and the difficulty in recruiting volunteers, the intervention had shorter sessions and less home practice than other MBIs like the MBSR.
“In response to the limitations of managers' timetables and the difficulty in recruiting volunteers, the intervention had shorter sessions and less home practice than other MBIs like the MBSR [8,49].”
From Pilot study of an online brief mindfulness-based intervention to improve the well-being of managers and reduce their stress at work. (2024) · cites this paper as [49]
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- Authors
- Riley, T. D., Roy, S., Parascando, J. A., Wile, K., LaGamma, C., Dong, H., & Zgierska, A. E.
- Affiliations
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Riley, Timothy D.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2022-06-01
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 497-506
- ISSN
- 2768-3605 (ISSN-L)
- 2768-3613
- OpenAlex
- W4221113472
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 3.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- mindfulness-based stress reduction, COVID-19 pandemic, feasibility, acceptability, perceived stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, loss of control, access to mental health care, health disparities
- MeSH terms
- COVID-19, Adult, Feasibility Studies, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Stress, Psychological, Pandemics, Mindfulness
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