Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Mental Health, Salivary Cortisol and α-amylase level in students: A Randomized and Parallel-Group Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background The current trial aimed to assess the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training on the level of mental health, salivary cortisol and α-amylase levels of students. Methods This research was an experimental trial with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. The statistical population of the research included all students studying in the universities of Khoy, Iran in 2021. The sample consisted of 30 people who were selected by randomized sampling and were assigned to two experimental and control groups. Stress, anxiety and depression scale (DASS-21), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and saliva samples were passively taken by ELISA laboratory method with special kits. Data analysis was done using an independent t-test and analysis of covariance using IBM-SPSS version 26 software. Results The results showed that MBSR training on general health, alpha-amylase level and alpha-amylase/cortisol ratio of experimental group participants was more effective than the control group (P < 0.05). However, it was not effective on students' cortisol levels (P > 0.05). Conclusions According to the findings, it can be argued that MBSR training has been able to promote the psychological (DASS and general health) and hormonal (alpha amylase level and alpha-amylase/cortisol ratio) mental health indicators of the experimental group participants compared to the control group.