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Effects of Internet Training in Mindfulness Meditation on Variables Related to Cancer Recovery

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Abstract

Objectives

Once cancer patients complete treatment, experiences with stress-related sequelae that impede recovery often persist. This study examined whether Internet-delivered mindfulness treatment alleviated symptoms associated with this stress.

Methods

Cancer survivors were randomly assigned to either 6-week Internet-delivered mindfulness training or a usual care control and were compared on the following outcome battery: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Profile of Mood States, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Fatigue Symptom Inventory. Assessments were conducted before and after treatment and intervention compliance was monitored. Mindfulness treatments were delivered at a time and on a computer of the participants’ choosing.

Results

Multivariate and univariate follow-up analyses indicated that mindfulness training produced significant benefits on all measures. Effect sizes were all medium to large as well.

Conclusions

Online mindfulness instruction represents a widely accessible intervention for reducing psychological distress and its behavioral manifestations in cancer survivors, especially those who are unable to participate in in-person training.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    David Messer, John J. Horan & Linda K. Larkey

  2. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Caroline E. Shanholtz

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  1. David Messer
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  2. John J. Horan
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Contributions

DM designed and executed the study, assisted with the data analysis, and wrote the manuscript. JH collaborated with designing the study, analyzing data, and editing the final manuscript. LL collaborated with designing the study and editing an initial version of the manuscript. CS collaborated with designing the study and analyzing data. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript for submission.

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Correspondence to David Messer.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Arizona State University Institutional Review Board.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Messer, D., Horan, J.J., Larkey, L.K. et al. Effects of Internet Training in Mindfulness Meditation on Variables Related to Cancer Recovery. Mindfulness 10, 2143–2151 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01182-y

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