The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training on Anxiety and Working Memory: Attention to the Role of Worry and Rumination

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Maryam Ranjkesh ¹
• Tahereh Elahi ²
• Zekrollah Morvvati ²
• kobra Ghasemi ¹

¹ Graduate\University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

² َAssociate Professor\ University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

10.22067/tpccp.2021.68126.1015

Abstract

Purpose:  The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness training on anxiety and working memory by taking the role of worry and rumination into consideration.
Method:  The method of this study was quasi-experimental with a three-group pre-test/post-test design. The research statistical population consisted of all eleventh and twelfth grade female students in Qorveh city in the academic year 2015-16. From this population, using purposive sampling method, 93 students who had above-average anxiety scores were selected and randomly assigned to three groups: experimental, placebo, and control. The experimental group received eight training sessions of mindfulness-based stress reduction program. The placebo group received eight training sessions of the English language and the control group received no training. Data were collected using Spielberger Anxiety Inventory, Rumination-Reflection Scale, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test. The data were analyzed by SPANOVA statistical method.
Findings: The results indicated significant differences between the experimental, placebo, and control groups in all the variables of interest. It was specified that mindfulness-based stress reduction program was influential in reducing anxiety, rumination, and worry, and increasing working memory performance.

Keywords

• Mindfulness
• Anxiety
• Rumination
• Working memory
• Worry

20.1001.1.22516352.1400.11.1.3.1

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