Online

Byrne, Ciara

Psychology

2009

PhD

Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to effectively alleviate psychological suffering. The current study compares the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention with an interpersonal support group and a notreatment condition in relieving psychological distress. Participants in this study comprised 112 college students from two universities who contacted the University Counseling Center on their respective college campus to access mental health services. Clients completed written measures at 3 time points; pre-intervention, postintervention, and at 6 months. The overall findings of this study indicate greater reductions over time in the mindfulness-based intervention on measures of anxiety, depression, academic problems, and increase in mindfulness skills compared to the interpersonal support group and no-treatment condition. Conversely, among participants in the interpersonal support group, findings reveal greater reductions in interpersonal problems. Further, results document a positive association between time spent in home mindfulness practice and change in mindfulness skills, and reductions in psychological distress. Mindfulness-based programs may prove to be a time and cost-effective intervention for addressing the needs of University Counseling Centers at a time when there is a shortage of mental health services.