Community-Based Mindfulness Program for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Targeting Stress Reduction

Purpose. Poorly managed stress leads to detrimental physical and psychological consequences that have implications for individual and community health. Evidence indicates that U.S. adults predominantly use unhealthy strategies for stress management. This study examines the impact of a community-based mindfulness training program on stress reduction. Design. This study used a one-group pretest-posttest design. Setting. The study took place at the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center in urban Los Angeles. Subjects. A sample of N= 127 community residents (84% Caucasian, 74% female) were included in the study. Intervention. Participants received mindfulness training through the Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) for Daily Living I. Measures. Mindfulness, self:compassion, and perceived stress were measured at baseline and postintervention. Analysis. Paired-sample t-tests were used to test for changes in outcome measures from baseline to postintervention. Hierarchical regression analysis was fit to examine whether change in self-reported mindfulness and self-compassion predicted postintervention perceived stress scores. Results. There were statistically significant improvements in self-reported mindfulness (t= -10.67, p < .001, d= .90), self-compassion (t= -8.50, p < .001, d = .62), and perceived stress (t= 9.28, p < .001, d = .78) at postintervention. Change in self-compassion predicted postintervention perceived stress (beta = .44, t = 5.06, p < .001), but change in mindfulness did not predict postintervention perceived stress (beta = -.04, t = -.41, p = .68). Conclusion. These results indicate that a community-based mindfulness training program can lead to reduced levels of psychological stress. Mindfulness training programs such as MAPs may offer a promising approach for general public health promotion through improving stress management in the urban community. (Am J Health Promot 201530W:36-41.)