Remote delivery of a Koru Mindfulness intervention for college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a remote, online, group-based mindfulness intervention could produce measurable benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results Summary
The intervention showed significant benefits for mindfulness, rumination, worry, mood, stress, anxiety, three aspects of psychological wellbeing, and physical activity, with an average effect size of 0.48. No significant effect was observed for depression.
Population
111 college students (58 in the intervention group, 53 in a waitlist control group).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
4 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4-week Koru Mindfulness program | increase | mindfulness | college students | - | produced significant benefits | #1 |
4-week Koru Mindfulness program | decrease | rumination | college students | - | produced significant benefits | #2 |
4-week Koru Mindfulness program | decrease | worry | college students | - | produced significant benefits | #3 |
4-week Koru Mindfulness program | increase | mood | college students | - | produced significant benefits | #4 |
4-week Koru Mindfulness program | decrease | stress | college students | - | produced significant benefits | #5 |
4-week Koru Mindfulness program | decrease | anxiety | college students | - | produced significant benefits | #6 |
4-week Koru Mindfulness program | increase | Autonomy | college students | - | produced significant benefits | #7 |
4-week Koru Mindfulness program | increase | Environmental mastery | college students | - | produced significant benefits | #8 |
4-week Koru Mindfulness program | increase | Self-acceptance | college students | - | produced significant benefits | #9 |
4-week Koru Mindfulness program | increase | physical activity | college students | - | produced significant benefits | #10 |
4-week Koru Mindfulness program | no change | depression | college students | - | No significant effect was noted | #11 |
remote, online, group-based mindfulness program | decrease | stress | college students | - | yielded benefits | #12 |
remote, online, group-based mindfulness program | decrease | anxiety | college students | - | yielded benefits | #13 |
remote, online, group-based mindfulness program | increase | mood | college students | - | yielded benefits | #14 |
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a remote, online, group-based mindfulness intervention results in effects during the COVID-19 pandemic. PARTICIPANTS: 111 college students: 58 in the intervention group, 53 in a waitlist control group. METHODS: Randomized control trial (RCT) using a 4-week Koru Mindfulness program, investigating pre-to-posttest changes in the intervention group compared to time-yoked control participants. RESULTS: Average effect size for all 21 variables measured was 0.48. The intervention produced significant benefits for mindfulness, rumination, worry, mood, stress, anxiety, three out of six aspects of psychological wellbeing (Autonomy, Environmental mastery, Self-acceptance) and physical activity. No significant effect was noted for depression ( CONCLUSIONS: A remote, online, group-based mindfulness program yielded benefits on stress, anxiety, and mood in college students, even under the dire circumstances of a pandemic.