Efficacy of a single-session online ACT-based mindfulness intervention among undergraduates in lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Pang, Nicholas Tze Ping; Tio, Vincent Chung Sheng; Bhupendar Singh, Amardeep Singh; Tseu, Mathias Wen Leh; Shoesmith, Wendy Diana; Abd Rahim, Muhammad Aklil; Mohd Kassim, Mohd Amiruddin

INTRODUCTION COVID-19 has trickle down effects psychologically on multiple strata of society, particularly university students. Apart from the worry of contracting or spreading COVID-19, Malaysian university students were also locked down in campuses, suffering significant psychological distress. Hence, an online mindfulness intervention was proposed to alleviate psychological distress and improve psychological flexibility and mindfulness. METHODS The study was a quasi-experimental study, with university students as participants. Intervention group participants were instructed to fill up online questionnaires which included basic demographics, as well as instruments assessing depression, anxiety, stress, mindfulness, psychological flexibility and fear of COVID-19 before and after the one-hour intervention. The control group completed pre- and postquestionnaires then subsequently crossed over to the intervention group. Repeated measures ANOVA was performed to assess time*group effects. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION 118 participants were involved in this study. There was significant difference in terms of anxiety (F(1, 116) = 34.361, p<.001, partial eta-squared = .229) and psychological flexibility between these two groups ( F(1, 116) = 11.010, p = .001, partial eta-squared = .087), while depression, stress, mindfulness and fear of COVID-19 showed no difference. Results of this study corroborates the efficacy of online single session mindfulness therapy as a viable short-term psychological intervention amidst financial and time constraint. As university students are in the age group of highest incidences of depressive and anxiety disorders, it is crucial to utilize resources to address as many students as possible to ensure maximal benefit.