Mindfulness-based intervention to reduce multiple health risk behaviors in Chinese undergraduates:a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

College students are most susceptible to highest-risk of health risk behaviors (HRBs) in China. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have shown significant benefit in specific HRB; however, evidence of its effectiveness in multiple HRBs in college students is limited. The current study aimed to address the effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on trait mindfulness and multiple HRBs among general Chinese undergraduates, and the relationship between trait mindfulness and HRBs. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in a Chinese university from April to June 2016. A total of 164 enrolled participants were randomized to no intervention (n = 82), or MBCT (n = 82). The outcomes were measured by the Adolescent Health Related Risky Behavior Inventory (AHRBI) and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Data were analyzed with intent-to-treat analysis and per-protocol analysis.The results yielded significant group by pre-post interaction terms for the trait mindfulness facets (P < 0.01) and the HRBs (P < 0.05), the MBCT group changed more than the control group. The five types of HRB measures had significant inverse correlation with the five facets of the trait mindfulness measures (r = −0.50 ~ −0.16, P < 0.05). The structural model of the intervention effect of MBCT on HRBs mediated by trait mindfulness was well-fitted (P < 0.01).The findings suggests that MBI has beneficial effects in both improving trait mindfulness and reducing multiple HRBs, and the improvement of trait mindfulness can effectively decreases the risks of HRBs.