Investigating the Effect of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Mental Health, Mindfulness, and Sleep Quality in Post-COVID Period

Abstract

Objectives: COVID-19 had devastating effects on both physical and mental well-being, prompting the need for interventions. Hence, this study aimed to explore the impact of MBSR on mental health, mindfulness, and sleep disorders in the post-COVID period. Methods: In this interventional parallel study, the sample was selected from university students in nursing and midwifery faculties using total population sampling. The intervention included providing counseling on mindfulness methods by trained experts. General health, mindfulness, and sleep quality questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS22, descriptive and inferential statistics. The significance level was considered as 0.05. Results: In this study, the mean age of the students was 20.29 ± 2.03 years. About 69.5% of the participants were female, and 96% were single. About 71.3% were studying nursing, and 67% had a history of Corona infection. The intervention was only effective on the general health of students, and the mean score of this questionnaire was 1.7 higher than the control group. Conclusion: The study indicated that MBSR intervention improved mental health, and there were no significant differences in mindfulness and sleep quality after intervention in the post-COVID period. Hence, regular assessment and use of this intervention, in combination with other mindfulness interventions, can help address long-term challenges and improve overall well-being.