Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Improves Well-being in Healthy Black Women: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Mindfulness training has shown to improve well-being in student populations. Yet, the benefits for Black students have not been adequately explored. This study investigated the effects of a brief mindfulness program on mood, mindfulness, cognition, and physiological indicators of stress in a small cohort of Black undergraduate women. Participants took part in a 4-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR). Before and after the program, participants were assessed with the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills, Profile of Mood States, Perceived Stress Scale, Corsi block tapping test, N-back task, and Stroop Color and Word test. Blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, salivary cortisol, and C-reactive protein were also measured. Significant improvements were observed in mindfulness skills, working memory, and cognitive processing. Reductions in tension-anxiety, fatigue, confusion, total overall mood disturbance, and arterial stiffness were also found. All other measures remained unchanged. This is the first study to demonstrate that MBSR training improves psychological, cognitive, and cardiovascular factors associated with stress in college-aged Black women. Limitations and directions for future research are also discussed.