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The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on the Mental Health of Family Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Background: Caregivers of people with chronic conditions are more likely than non-caregivers to have depression and emotional problems. Few studies have examined the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in improving their mental well-being. Methods: Caregivers of persons with chronic conditions who scored 7 or above in the Caregiver Strain Index were randomly assigned to the 8-week MBSR group (n = 70) or the self-help control group (n = 71). Validated instruments were used to assess the changes in depressive and anxiety symptoms, quality of life, self-efficacy, self-compassion and mindfulness. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention and at the 3-month follow-up. Results: Compared to the participants in the control group, participants in the MBSR group had a significantly greater decrease in depressive symptoms at post-intervention and at 3 months post-intervention (p < 0.01). The improvement in state anxiety symptoms was significantly greater among participants in the MBSR group than those of the control group at post-intervention (p = 0.007), although this difference was not statistically significant at 3 months post-intervention (p = 0.084). There was also a statistically significant larger increase in self-efficacy (controlling negative thoughts; p = 0.041) and mindfulness (p = 0.001) among participants in the MBSR group at the 3-month follow-up compared to the participants in the control group. No statistically significant group effects (MBSR vs. control) were found in perceived stress, quality of life or self-compassion. Conclusions: MBSR appears to be a feasible and acceptable intervention to improve mental health among family caregivers with significant care burden, although further studies that include an active control group are needed to make the findings more conclusive.
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“The sample size calculation is based on a previous study of an MBI for caregivers, in which an effect size of 0.64 in depression [25], with an estimation of an effect size of 0.14 for Arm 3.”
From Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Caregivers of Frail Older Chinese Adults: A Study Protocol (2022) · cites this paper as [25]
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“In three of these (Armstrong and Rimes 2016; Hou et al. 2014; Kuyken et al. 2010), the control condition was not closely matched to the intervention in duration of social contact.”
From Effectiveness of Self-Compassion Related Therapies: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (2019) · cites this paper as Hou et al. 2014
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“Three studies 54,56,65 were of high methodological quality.”
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“a larger improvement in self-efficacy was found in MBSR group at 3-month follow-up.”
From Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Caregivers of Frail Older Chinese Adults: A Study Protocol (2022) · cites this paper as [25]
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“MBSR participants had greater decreases in depressive symptoms at post-intervention and 3-month follow-up than those of the control group”
From Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Caregivers of Frail Older Chinese Adults: A Study Protocol (2022) · cites this paper as [25]
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“In a large trial, 141 Chinese informal caregivers were randomized into an MBSR or a self-help control group [25].”
From Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Caregivers of Frail Older Chinese Adults: A Study Protocol (2022) · cites this paper as [25]
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“An estimation of a drop-out rate of 15% is based on two local studies of mindfulness-based intervention [25,47].”
From Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Caregivers of Frail Older Chinese Adults: A Study Protocol (2022) · cites this paper as [25]
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“A trial of MBSR in Hong Kong mentioned earlier [25] found improvements in self-efficacy at post-intervention follow-up for mixed caregivers.”
From Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Caregivers of Frail Older Chinese Adults: A Study Protocol (2022) · cites this paper as [25]
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“However, no effects were found on stress, quality of life, or self-compassion.”
From Mindfulness Training for People With Dementia and Their Caregivers: Rationale, Current Research, and Future Directions (2018) · cites this paper as Hou et al., 2014
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“Moreover, an improvement in anxiety, self-efficacy, and mindfulness were found.”
From Mindfulness Training for People With Dementia and Their Caregivers: Rationale, Current Research, and Future Directions (2018) · cites this paper as Hou et al., 2014
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“One RCT on caregivers of patients with chronic conditions showed an improvement on depression, which was the primary outcome, compared to an active control (Hou et al., 2014).”
From Mindfulness Training for People With Dementia and Their Caregivers: Rationale, Current Research, and Future Directions (2018) · cites this paper as Hou et al., 2014
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Metadata
- Authors
- Hou, R. J., Wong, S. Y.-S., Yip, B. H.-K., Hung, A. T. F., Lo, H. H.-M., Chan, P. H. S., Lo, C. S. L., Kwok, T. C.-Y., Tang, W. K., Mak, W. W. S., Mercer, S. W., & Ma, S. H.
- Affiliations
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Limited (HK)
- Castle Peak Hospital (CN)
- University of Glasgow (GB)
- University of Hong Kong (HK)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2013-11-19
- Volume
- 83
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 45-53
- ISSN
- 0033-3190 (ISSN-L)
- 1423-0348
- OpenAlex
- W2082355999
- Cited by
- 150
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 9.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Food and Health Bureau
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Research and Theory › Nursing care and research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Keywords
- mindfulness-based stress reduction, family caregivers, caregiver mental health, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, self-efficacy, self-compassion, mindfulness, chronic disease, caregiver burden, quality of life, perceived stress
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Anxiety, Chronic Disease, Depression, Family Health, Female, Hong Kong, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Care, Stress, Psychological, Caregivers, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Self Efficacy, Mindfulness
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