Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for College Students: Exploring the Impact of Group Process Verses Meditation Exercise

Abstract

This study investigated the role of group process within a mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) group for college students. The study used a quasi-experimental design and compared two MBSR groups, one that maximized mindfulness exercise time and one with balanced mindfulness exercise and group process time. Dependent variables included measures of mindfulness, psychological well-being, perceived stress, life satisfaction, and self-compassion. Pre to post-test data from 81 participants were analyzed using a mixed-model MANOVA. Results indicated a significant main effect for time and a non-significant interaction between treatment group and time. These results indicate that the balanced group process and meditation exercise group was not significantly different than the group that maximized meditation exercise.