An evaluation of a low intensity mHealth enhanced mindfulness intervention for Chinese university students: A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a low-cost, scalable mindfulness intervention in improving psychological health and sleep quality among Chinese university students.
Results Summary
The study found that mindfulness interventions significantly reduced depression, anxiety, and stress, and improved sleep quality, latency, and efficiency, with effects maintained at week 7. The largest effect was seen in subjective sleep quality (Cohen's d = 2.00).
Population
Chinese university students (mean age 22.30 ± 2.63, 69.31% female).
Effective Dosage
Two in-person guided sessions plus weekly self-guided practice for 7 weeks.
Duration
7 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness only group | decrease | depression | completers in group 2, 3 and 4 | Cohen's d = 0.83 | showed significantly reduced | #1 |
mindfulness only group | decrease | anxiety | completers in group 2, 3 and 4 | Cohen's d = 0.84 | showed significantly reduced | #2 |
mindfulness only group | decrease | stress | completers in group 2, 3 and 4 | Cohen's d = 0.75 | showed significantly reduced | #3 |
mindfulness only group | increase | subjective sleep quality | completers in group 2, 3 and 4 | Cohen's d = 2.00 | improved | #4 |
mindonly only group | increase | sleep latency | completers in group 2, 3 and 4 | Cohen's d = 0.55 | improved | #5 |
mindfulness only group | increase | habitual sleep efficiency | completers in group 2, 3 and 4 | Cohen's d = 0.86 | improved | #6 |
Mental disorders and sleep dysfunction are common among Chinese university students. This study aimed to evaluate a low cost scalable mindfulness intervention program to improve psychological health and sleep quality among Chinese university students. A randomized controlled trial with 101 university students (mean age 22.30 ± 2.63, 69.31% female) was conducted. Participants were randomized into 4 groups: Group 1: control group (n = 25), Group 2: mindfulness only group (n = 27), Group 3: mindfulness + plain-text reminder group (n = 24), and Group 4: mindfulness + enhanced text reminder with animal meme group (n = 25).The mindfulness intervention consisted of two in-person guided sessions along with weekly self-guided practice for 7 weeks. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to measure depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep dysfunction. After the intervention at week 4, compared to controls, completers in group 2, 3 and 4 (n = 42) showed significantly reduced depression (Cohen's d = 0.83), anxiety (Cohen's d = 0.84), and stress (Cohen's d = 0.75), and improved subjective sleep quality (Cohen's d = 2.00), sleep latency (Cohen's d = 0.55), and habitual sleep efficiency (Cohen's d = 0.86). The effect was maintained at week 7. Low-intensity mindfulness interventions might be a useful intervention program in university settings.