Investigating the Effectiveness of Mindfulness Education on the Happiness of Women with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Using Social Media: An Educational Study

Abstract

Aim:: Numerous studies have investigated the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation education on the improvement of physical and mental conditions in women. However, there is limited information about the effects of mindfulness counseling on happiness. Background:: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) causes not only physical problems in women but also mental problems, such as reduced levels of happiness. Objectives:: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the mindfulness meditation approach on the happiness of women with underlying premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods:: The sample size was estimated by power of 90%, confidence interval of 95%, δ1= 6.07and δ2 = 5.11, μ1= 23.05,μ2=19.01, Z1- β= 1.28, Z1- α/2 =1.96 and α = 0.05, the total number of the subjects was 112 respondents (56 in intervention and 56 in the control groups). One hundred twelve participants who had PMS in one interventional-educational study were randomly selected from the health centers in Isfahan. The samples were divided into two groups: intervention and control groups. The intervention group received eight 60-minute sessions of mindfulness education using Google Meet. They taught meditation in a sitting position for 1-10 minutes by using sounds and thoughts as the center of attention, applying the attention technique with a focus on body movements while breathing, and doing yoga and relaxing the muscles to relieve stress. The control group received no intervention. The data were collected using the demographic characteristics questionnaire and the Oxford Happiness questionnaire three times(before, immediately, and one month after the intervention). SPSS 23, chi-square, independent t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA were used to analyze the data. Results:: There was a significant increase in the mean score of happiness in the intervention group immediately and one month after the intervention (P=0.0001). Conclusion:: It was found that mindfulness education was effective on the level of happiness in women with PMS; therefore, this intervention can be used to improve the level of happiness in women with PMS.