Who Can Get More Benefits? Effects of Mindfulness Training in Long-Term and Short-Term Male Prisoners

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a 6-week mindfulness training program on mental health, anxiety, depression, aggression, sleep quality, mood states, total mood disturbance, and perceived stress among male Chinese prisoners, and to explore whether the intervention effects differed in long-term and short-term prisoners. Eighty-three male prisoners completed the study, including 39 in the mindfulness training group and 44 in the waitlist control group. Results showed that, compared with the waitlist control group, mindfulness training group showed a significant improvement in mindfulness level ( p < .0l), Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90; p < .00l), aggression ( p < .05), sleep quality ( p < .05), and total mood disturbance ( p < .0l). Moreover, compared with the short-term prisoners, mindfulness training was more effective on the long-term prisoners in mindfulness level ( p < .05), SCL-90 ( p < .001), anxiety ( p < .05), depression ( p < .05), aggression ( p < .05), total mood disturbance ( p < .0l), and perceived stress ( p < .0l). Given the study’s innovation, we discussed its significance and limitations.