Mindfulness is a promising psychological resource that can alleviate dysfunctional fear responses and promote mental health. We investigated how mindfulness affects fear and depression in isolated patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and whether it acts as a mediator.

We conducted an online survey of COVID-19 patients undergoing at-home treatment from February to April 2022. The survey included a questionnaire on fear of COVID-19 (measured by the Fear of COVID-19 Scale), mindfulness (measured by the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), and depression (measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire). A total of 380 participants completed the questionnaire. We analyzed the correlation between each variable and performed a mediation analysis using hierarchical regression and bootstrapping to verify the statistical significance of the mediating effects.

Each variable was significantly correlated. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that the association between the fear of COVID-19 and depression decreased from 0.377-0.255, suggesting that mindfulness partially mediates the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and depression. Bootstrapping analysis showed that the indirect effect of the mediating variable (mindfulness) is 0.121, which accounts for 32.3% of the total effect.

Interventions that promote mindfulness in patients with acute COVID-19 may be beneficial for their mental health.

Patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers experience a substantial amount of anxiety and distress. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an 8-week, remotely delivered Resilient Living Program (RLP) for adult patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers.

Eligible patients included adults (≥18 years) with advanced cancer. Their caregiver had the option to participate. The RLP components included online modules, a print journal, and 4 video-telehealth-delivered sessions. Content focused on techniques for managing stress and building resilience (mindful presence, uplifting emotions, reframing experiences through practicing principles of gratitude, compassion, acceptance, meaning, and forgiveness). Feasibility and acceptability were assessed quantitatively and with semi-structured interviews conducted with a subset of participants. Effectiveness measures (anxiety, stress, quality of life [QOL], sleep, resiliency, and fatigue) were administered at baseline, week 5, week 9, and week 12.

Of the eligible patients, 33/72 (46%) were enrolled. In all, 15 caregivers enrolled. Thirty participants (21 patients/9 caregivers) completed at least 3 video-telehealth sessions (63% adherence). For patients, there were statistically significant improvements in anxiety and fatigue at week 12 (p = 0.05). Other effectiveness measures (stress, QOL, sleep, resiliency) showed positive trends. Eleven participants were interviewed and qualitative analysis revealed 4 themes: Easy to Use, Learning Key Principles, Practice is Essential, and Examples of Benefits.

Participation in the RLP was feasible and acceptable for patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers. Participants tended to indicate that the practices were easy to integrate into their everyday lives, engendered their ability to focus on the positive, and would recommend the RLP to other individuals living with advanced cancer. Preliminary effectiveness data suggest the program may positively impact anxiety, stress, QOL, sleep, resiliency, and fatigue. A larger randomized clinical trial is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can alter day-to-day life. While changes in cognition and physical function are most often cited, emotional disturbances, notably depression, are also common. For individuals who experience depression symptoms, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) may afford the opportunity to address these symptoms by teaching skills to mitigate negative thought patterns and foster acceptance. Yet, as with any treatment for depression, MBCT may not be the best fit for everyone. According to the literature, characteristics such as age, gender, and baseline mindfulness or pain levels have the potential to affect treatment response. While these factors have yet to be explored within a TBI sample, we must additionally consider whether possible cognitive impairment due to TBI plays a role in treatment response. Drawing from an earlier multi-site randomized controlled trial to explore the efficacy of MBCT for depression in a TBI sample, the current study examined the associations between a number of baseline factors (demographic, emotional, physical, and cognitive) and decreased depression scores post-intervention. Partial correlations adjusted for gender. Findings indicated that only higher levels of pain at baseline were associated with lesser effectiveness of the intervention. MBCT offers a good treatment option for most individuals experiencing depression following TBI.

1. (1) To explore factors associated with treatment response to MBCT for depression after TBI.

2. (2) To understand how cognitive impairment resulting from TBI need not preclude treatment response.

3. (3) To reflect on the role of pain in treatment response.

Persistent discrimination and identity threats contribute to adverse health outcomes in minoritized groups, mediated by both structural racism and physiological stress responses.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of recruiting African American volunteers for a pilot study of race-based stress, the acceptability of a mindfulness intervention designed to reduce racism-induced stress, and to evaluate preliminary associations between race-based stress and clinical, psychosocial, and biological measures.

A convenience sample of African Americans aged 18–50 from New York City’s Tri-state area underwent assessments for racial discrimination using the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS) and Race-Based Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale. Mental health was evaluated using validated clinical scales measuring depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, mindfulness, resilience, sleep, interpersonal connection, and coping. Biomarkers were assessed through clinical laboratory tests, allostatic load assessment, and blood gene expression analysis.

Twenty participants (12 females, 8 males) completed assessments after consent. Elevated EDS scores were associated with adverse lipid profiles, including higher cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratios and lower HDL levels, as well as elevated inflammatory markers (NF-kB activity) and reduced antiviral response (interferon response factor). Those with high EDS reported poorer sleep, increased substance use, and lower resilience. Mindfulness was positively associated with coping and resilience but inversely to sleep disturbance. 90% showed interest in a mindfulness intervention targeting racism-induced stress.

This study demonstrated an association between discrimination and adverse health effects among African Americans. These findings lay the groundwork for further research to explore the efficacy of mindfulness and other interventions on populations experiencing discrimination.

Theory and research indicated that executive functioning (EF) correlated with, preceded, and stemmed from worry in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The present secondary analysis (Zainal & Newman, 2023b) thus determined whether EF domains mediated the effect of a 14-day (5 prompts/day) mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) against a self-monitoring control (SM) for GAD.

Participants (N = 110) diagnosed with GAD completed self-reported (Attentional Control Scale, GAD Questionnaire, Perseverative Cognitions Questionnaire) and performance-based tests (Letter-Number Sequencing, Stroop, Trail Making Test-B, Verbal Fluency) at baseline, post-treatment, and one-month follow-up (1MFU). Causal mediation analyses determined if pre-post changes in EF domains preceded and mediated the effect of MEMI against SM on pre-1MFU changes in GAD severity and trait repetitive negative thinking (RNT).

MEMI was more efficacious than SM in improving pre–post inhibition (β = −2.075, 95% [−3.388, −0.762], p = .002), working memory (β = 0.512, 95% [0.012, 1.011], p = .045), and set-shifting (β = −2.916, 95% [−5.142, −0.691], p = .010) but not verbal fluency and attentional control. Within groups, MEMI but not SM produced improvements in all examined pre–post EF outcomes except attentional control. Only pre–post improvements in inhibition mediated the effect of MEMI against SM on pre-1MFU reductions in GAD severity (β = −0.605, 95% [−1.357, −0.044], p = .030; proportion mediated = 7.1%) and trait RNT (β = −0.024, 95% [−0.054, −0.001], p = .040; proportion mediated = 7.4%). These patterns remained after conducting sensitivity analyses with non-linear mediator-outcome relations.

Optimizing MEMI for GAD might entail specifically boosting inhibition plausibly by augmenting it with dialectical behavioral therapy, encouraging high-intensity physical exercises, and targeting negative emotional contrast avoidance.

Community health workers (CHWs) stand as critical frontline agents within the Brazilian healthcare system. In this qualitative study, we examined the impact of a community-based behavioral change intervention spearheaded by CHWs.

The intervention focused on promoting healthy behaviors – physical activity, nutrition, and emotional well-being – among individuals aged 50 and older living in a rural community in Brazil. The intervention was designed, implemented, and evaluated in close collaboration with CHWs and local administrators. The implementation of the intervention unfolded in two waves, each lasting 12 months. Interviews with CHWs, health administrators, and intervention participants conducted at post-intervention and 6-year follow-up centered on CHWs as delivery agents and examined the implementation of the intervention in primary care contexts around adoption, implementation, and long-term maintenance.

Inductive analysis revealed four themes that highlight CHWs’ motivation to take active roles in health promotion and overcoming challenges such as unfamiliarity with new roles or limited training. In addition, enhanced community bonds, job satisfaction, and trust in CHWs gained through the intervention, empowered CHWs to realize their potential and importance. Another important area relates to the CHWs’ ability to leverage their deep community ties and cultural insights to enhance the intervention’s significance. CHWs’ participation in the program also led to personal benefits and self-care practices, setting an example for the community they serve.

This study underscores the positive impact of a community-based intervention led by CHWs. Such programs have the potential for nationwide dissemination, leveraging the CHWs’ widespread presence and deep community integration.

Parents of children with skin conditions can experience stress from the additional responsibilities of care. However, there is a lack of psychological interventions for families affected by a dermatological diagnosis.

To investigate (1) whether delivering the ‘Living in the Present’ mindfulness curriculum to parents of children with skin conditions reduced stress and increased both parental/child quality of life (QoL), and (2) determine intervention acceptability.

Ten parents of children with eczema, ectodermal dysplasia, ichthyosis, and alopecia took part in a mindfulness-based intervention. Using mixed methods, a single-group experimental case design (SCED) was conducted and supplemented by thematic analysis of exit interviews. Parents completed idiographic measures of parenting stress, standardised measures of QoL, stress, mindfulness, and took part in exit interviews. Children also completed QoL measures.

Tau-U analysis of idiographic measures revealed three parents showed some significant improvements in positive targets, and five parents showed some significant improvements in negative targets. Assessment of reliable change demonstrated that: one parent showed improvement in mindful parenting, three parents showed improvement in parenting stress, seven parents showed improvement in anxiety, three parents showed improvements in depression, six parents showed improvement in QoL, and four children showed improvement in QoL. However, two parents showed increased anxiety. Thematic analysis revealed positive changes to mood following mindfulness, although challenges were highlighted, including sustaining home practice.

Findings suggest this specific form of mindfulness intervention could be effective for parents of children with skin conditions; however, further robust studies are needed.