Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Group Training on Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Self-confidence and Hemoglobin A1c in Young Women with Type 2 Diabetes

About 20-40% of people with diabetes experience varying levels of distress and general symptoms of anxiety and depression. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction group training on depression, anxiety, stress, self-confidence and hemoglobin A1c in young women with type 2 diabetes. In this pretest-posttest-control group design study, we used instruments such as demographic data and depression, anxiety and stress (DASS-21) and the Rosenberg self-confidence questionnaires. The study population included 60 patients with diabetes randomly divided into 2, the experimental and control groups. The experimental group received the mindfulness intervention with 8 sessions each 2.5 hours while the control group received no intervention. Following this, during the ninth, session both groups again completed the questionnaires. Patients in experimental group reported lower levels intensity of anxiety, stress and HbA1C, but higher self-confidence in comparison to the controls after intervention (P<0.05), although differences in levels of the depression variable between two groups was not significant. In addition, between HbA1c and all variables, (depression, stress, self-confidence) significant correlations were observed. Results suggest that depression, anxiety, stress and self- confidence are associated with HbA1C level and a mindfulness-based stress reduction program can be effective in reducing the psychological symptoms in these patients, leading to increased confidence and improved glycemic control in women with type 2 diabetes.