The role of emotion regulation through mindfulness in oncological patients: A pilot study.
Carmen Yélamos Agua, Sofía Luque Suárez, María Ruesga García, Rosario Sepulcre Canto, Renmaly Angulo Belisario, Tamara Hernandez Baute, Carlos Hortelano Luna, Sira Izárbez Loriente, Mercedes Márquez Fernández, Montserrat Parejo Espinar, María Isabel Sánchez Jiménez, Ruth San José García, Elísabeth Berzal Pérez
Journal of psychosocial oncology January 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2024.2389094 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA mindfulness-based emotion regulation program significantly improved emotional well-being in 97 adult cancer patients. Participants reported enhanced clarity in emotional understanding and mood repair, alongside notable reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms. All subscales of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire showed statistically significant improvements post-program. These findings underscore the importance of integrating emotional regulation techniques into psycho-oncology, suggesting that even amidst cancer treatment, mindfulness can effectively address depression and anxiety, fostering better emotional health for patients at any disease stage.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Single-group pre-post test design with repeated measures Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 97 |
| Population | Adult cancer patients |
| Intervention | mindfulness-based emotion regulation program |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Cancer patients Emotion regulation |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | Statistically significant improvements in mindfulness facets, emotional clarity, mood repair, and reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms were observed after the program. |
Abstract
Traditional MBSR or MBTC programs do not delve deeply enough into emotional regulation, which is especially relevant in oncological patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the benefits of a mindfulness-based emotion regulation program in adult oncological patients. Psycho-oncologists from the AECC developed a mindfulness-based emotion regulation program. The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were administered before and after the program. A single-group pre-post test design with repeated measures was employed, utilizing the General Linear Model. Ninety-seven adult cancer patients completed the pre- and post-program assessments. Statistically significant improvements were observed in all FFMQ subscales, increased clarity of emotional discrimination, mood repair, and statistically significant reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Regardless of the phase of the disease, the results of this study suggest that emotional regulation may improve and anxiety and depressive symptomatology decrease after a mindfulness-based emotion regulation program in oncological patients.