The effectiveness of mindfulness training on experiential avoidance, self-compassion and physiological indicators of women with breast cancer

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Saveh, Iran

2 Cancer Research Center, Shaid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/aftj.2023.375527.1847

Abstract

Aim: This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of mindfulness training on experiential avoidance, self-compassion and some physiological indicators of women with breast cancer.
Method: The present research was conducted in terms of practical purpose and semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test research design and a control group. The statistical population of this study included all women with stage 1 and 2 breast cancer who were under medical care after the end of chemotherapy or radiotherapy referring to Shahada Tajrish Hospital in 2020-2021. The sampling method of this research was available sampling, in which 40 female patients with breast cancer were selected as the sample group and were equally assigned to the experimental group (20 people) and the control group (20 people). To collect data, Neff's self-compassion questionnaire (2003) and Bond et al.'s (2011) experiential avoidance questionnaire and physiological indicators were used. Mindfulness training was conducted for 8 sessions and each session was 90 minutes based on the protocol of Lengacher et al. (2018) for the experimental group, but the control group did not receive any intervention. The data was analyzed using the analysis of covariance method.
Results: The results showed that mindfulness training significantly increased self-compassion (F = 6.35 and P < 0.05) and decreased experiential avoidance (F = 4.75 and P < 0.05) in women with breast cancer. . In addition, the results showed that these exercises significantly reduce cortisol levels (F = 7.38 and P < 0.05). However, it had no significant effect on the concentration of IL-6 (F = 0.83 and P < 0.05) and CRP (F = 0.04 and P < 0.05).
Conclusion: According to the present findings, it can be said that mindfulness training is effective in improving the mental state and reducing stress of women with breast cancer.

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Journal of Applied Family Therapy

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 29 December 2023

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History

  • Receive Date: 05 December 2022
  • Revise Date: 30 June 2023
  • Accept Date: 29 December 2023

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