0145 Pre-Sleep Cognitive Arousal Decreases Following a 4-Week Introductory Mindfulness Course

Abstract

Introduction: Mindfulness‐based training has shown potential in reducing anxious and ruminative thoughts before sleep, and improving sleep quality. However, traditional 8‐week programs have limited acceptability and uptake. In this study, we aimed to test the effects of a short introductory mindfulness training course on pre‐sleep arousal and sleep quality. Methods: Enrollees in a 4‐week Mindfulness Foundation Course were invited to participate in the study and were allocated to one of two groups: intervention (N = 57) and waitlist control (N = 39). 101 participants enrolled in the experiment and 96 completed the protocol (mean(sd) age = 49.5(1.5), 56 female). Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI) and the presleep arousal scale (PSAS), and were monitored by actigraphy for a week at baseline and post‐intervention. To test the effect of the intervention, outcome variables were subjected to repeatedmeasures ANCOVA with group as a between‐subject variable, and age, gender, and years of education as covariates using intent‐totreat analysis. Results: PSQI scores improved across both groups (treatment: t56=4.25, p