The Effect of Short-Term Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy on Mindfulness and Stress

This study aimed to examine the effects of short-term mindfulness-based group counseling on mindfulness and stress. To achieve this, a short-term mindfulness-based group counseling program was conducted for the general public, and its effects on mindfulness and stress were investigated. Participants were recruited from the Busan area, and a total of 17 individuals participated in the experiment. Among them, 8 were assigned to the experimental group, while 9 were assigned to the control group. The participants in the experimental group underwent short-term mindfulness-based group counseling for five weeks, with one session per week, each lasting two hours. For data collection, a pre-test was conducted before the group counseling for both the experimental and control groups, followed by a post-test after the counseling, and a follow-up test five weeks after the completion of the group counseling. To measure changes in mindfulness, Park Seong-hyun's mindfulness scale was used, and to measure changes in stress, the psychosocial stress scale was employed. The collected data were analyzed using the generalized estimating equations, a non-parametric statistical method. The results showed that while the changes in mindfulness due to the short-term mindfulness-based group counseling were not significant, there was a significant improvement in stress levels. Finally, implications of the findings were presented.