Online Mindfulness Sessions Ease COVID-19 Stress
Engaging in online mindfulness practices could potentially aid during the pandemic crisis
Turns out practiced mindfulness can be a lifesaver, especially during times of uncertainty. That's what a case study by researchers at Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina shows.
The study delves into the therapeutic value of online mindfulness sessions during trying times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The sessions are designed to help people struggling with their emotional health.
After an online mindfulness session, an overwhelming majority (89%) of participants found the experience helpful.
Dr. Rebecca Erwin Wells, the principal investigator at Wake Forest School of Medicine, explains, "Mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety. Mindfulness meditation practice can help enhance this ability."
The seed for this study was planted by an Italian physician, Dr. Licia Grazzi, who led a program of free daily mindfulness sessions called "Mindfulness for Milan" during the lockdown period.
The results of the study are published in the journal Global Advances in Health and Medicine.
Getting in on the Mindfulness Session
The study gathered participants from March 23 to August 4, 2020. Participants included healthcare professionals, individuals with migraines, and the general public. The experts recruited individuals from 116 different U.S. zip codes, as well as from other countries.
Each participant filled out a pre-session survey, participated in a 15-minute online video mindfulness session, and then completed a post-session survey.
Interestingly, more than half (63%) of the participants had never tried mindfulness before.
The session started with a female instructor in a white coat providing an overview of mindfulness and guiding participants to focus on the present moment, their breathing, and simple "being." The practice helped participants gently let go of thoughts, feelings, and sensations throughout the session.
The Impact of the Class
Out of the 144 individuals who completed the post-session survey, 76% reported reduced anxiety, while 80% felt less stressed after the session.
Moreover, 55% of the participants said the class alleviated their COVID-19 concerns.
Overall, 89% of participants felt the session was helpful, with the same percentage considering the online format efficient. In total, 74% said they'd recommend online mindfulness sessions to friends and family. Interested individuals were keen on more sessions, either weekly, daily, or monthly.
Just under two-thirds (65%) of the participants were eager to learn more about mindfulness, with an additional 24% expressing possible interest.
The study authors note some limitations, such as participants continuing to meditate after the session, which may skew opinions. Additionally, most sessions were held early in the pandemic, which might have artificially heightened emotions. Finally, the participants were mostly white (84%).
The authors suggest that more research is needed to understand why there was a lack of diversity among participants and to address potential disparities in accessibility for some populations.
A Growing Interest in Online Mindfulness
The study conducted a Google search for "mindfulness + COVID" to analyze interest in mindfulness online. In May 2020, the search yielded 63.5 million results, but by August 2020, the number had risen to 96.4 million—a 52% increase—suggesting a growing interest in mindfulness during the pandemic.
The study also offers suggestions for online mindfulness resources.
[1] "Wake Forest University School of Medicine," Wake Forest University School of Medicine, accessed May 8, 2023.
[3] "Improving screening rates for anxiety and depression among epilepsy patients using electronic health records," Annals of Neurology, March 15, 2022.
In the context of the study, mindfulness meditation sessions conducted online have shown significant benefits for mental health and stress relief. These sessions, found helpful by 89% of participants, include guidance on focusing on the present moment, breath, and simple 'being'. According to the study, 76% reported reduced anxiety, 80% felt less stressed, and 55% reported alleviated COVID-19 concerns post-session (Source: Global Advances in Health and Medicine). This rise in online mindfulness interest is evident, as a Google search for "mindfulness + COVID" increased by 52% between May and August 2020 (Source: study analysis).
