Mindfulness group intervention improved self-compassion and resilience of children from single-parent families in Tibetan areas.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to examine the effects of a mindfulness group intervention on self-compassion, psychological resilience, and mental health of children from single-parent families in Tibetan areas. METHODS: A total of 64 children from single-parent families in Tibetan areas were randomly allocated to a control group (n = 32) and an intervention group (n = 32). Participants in the control group received conventional education, while participants in the intervention group received 6-week mindfulness intervention in addition to the conventional education. Both groups completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Self-compassion Scale (SCS), Resilience Scale for Chinese Adolescent (RSCA), and the Mental Health Test (MHT) before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After the intervention, the levels of mindfulness and self-compassion in the intervention group were significantly improved in relative to the control group. The positive cognition in the RSCA was significantly increased in the intervention group, whereas no significant change was observed in the control group. There was a trend towards lower self-blame in the MHT, but no significant impact of the intervention on the overall level of mental health was found. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that a 6-week mindfulness training effectively improve self-compassion and resilience of single-parent children. Thus, mindfulness training as a cost-effective approach can be arranged in the curriculum, which helps students develop high level of self-compassion and resilience. In addition, there may be a need to improve emotional control in order to improve mental health.

Is the diurnal profile of salivary cortisol concentration a useful marker for measuring reported stress in acupuncture research? A randomized controlled pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: This pilot study on the use of traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) to treat chronic stress explored the use of the diurnal salivary cortisol profile as a potential outcome measure. DESIGN AND METHODS: Adult volunteers (n=18) with high self-reported stress levels, ascertained by screening with the Perceived Stress Scale 14, were randomized into three groups. Group 1 received weekly sessions of TCA for 5 weeks; Group 2 received attention only weekly (practitioner present and subject supine) for 5 weeks, and group 3 acted as a waiting-list control. A diurnal cortisol profile was constructed for each individual at nine data points: two at baseline, five during the intervention, and two postintervention. A salivary cortisol sample was taken at four time points (on waking, 30 minutes, 3 hours, and 12 hours after waking). OUTCOME MEASURES: Salivary cortisol concentrations were measured using a high-sensitivity salivary cortisol enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: The cortisol awakening response showed an average increase during the intervention for both TCA and attention groups, indicating that for these two groups the cortisol response had normalized and they were in a lower state of stress. These trends did not reach statistical significance due to individual variation and the small number of study participants. The control group showed an overall decrease in the average morning increase over the same period. No significant difference in the day decline in cortisol was found between groups at any point in the study. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests that TCA could reduce stress and increase the morning rise of the cortisol profile; however, this was not distinguishable from the effect of attention only. Further work with a larger sample is necessary to provide a definitive answer regarding whether this could be sustained with more TCA treatments. The morning cortisol increase could be a useful outcome measure for monitoring the effects of treatment on perceived stress.

An investigation into the effectiveness of traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) for chronic stress in adults: a randomised controlled pilot study.

AIMS: The aim of this exploratory, pragmatic randomised controlled trial was to investigate the effectiveness of traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA), using an individually targeted treatment protocol delivered by a traditionally trained Chinese acupuncturist. The trial examined the treatment of chronic stress as perceived and reported by the participants, with all its diversity of presenting symptoms, rather than using a cohort approach based on a single stress-related symptom. METHODS: Participants (n=18) with high self-reported stress levels were randomised into 3 groups. Group 1 received weekly TCA for 5 weeks; group 2 received weekly attention only (practitioner present and participant supine) for 5 weeks and group 3 acted as a waiting list control. The Perceived Stress Scale 14 (PSS-14) and the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) were completed before and after a 5-week intervention. RESULTS: After 5 weeks, group 1 reported significant changes in MYMOP profile score and both MYMOP reported symptoms (p<0.05); group 2 had significant changes in MYMOP profile score and 1 symptom (p<0.05); group 3 showed no changes. The PSS-14 scores decreased in all 3 groups, but the difference between pre- and post-study within and between the groups did not reach significance in this small study. In addition, there were self-reports of improvements for group 1 for other health problems encountered during treatment. LIMITATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: The lack of clarity concerning the definition of stress makes it complex to investigate. This pilot study suggests that TCA may be successful in treating the symptoms of stress, through a combination of specific and non-specific effects; but may not relate directly to how a person perceives their stress.