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Volume 24, Issue 155 (12-2025)                   Journal of Psychological Science 2025, 24(155): 55-71 | Back to browse issues page


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Goodarzi Mehr R, Aflak Seir A, Hadianfard H, Rahimi C. (2025). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based education on psychological distress, emotion regulation, and fear of disease progression in women with breast cancer. Journal of Psychological Science. 24(155), 55-71. doi:10.61186/jps.24.155.5
URL: http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-2257-en.html
Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. , aaflakseir@shirazu.ac.ir
Abstract:   (1002 Views)
Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, and these women often face psychological problems that can negatively impact their quality of life. Fear of disease progression, psychological distress, and emotional regulation are among the significant issues that women with breast cancer encounter, and psychotherapeutic interventions can be effective in helping patients better manage these challenges.
Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based education on psychological distress, emotion regulation, and fear of disease progression in women with breast cancer.
Methods: The research design was a semi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases, and the control group received no intervention. The study population included all women over 20 years of age with breast cancer in the cities of Babol and Sari from January 2023 to Agust 2023. Thirty individuals were selected using convenience sampling from treatment centers, including Rohani Hospital Babol, Yahya Nezhad Hospital Babol, Imam Khomeini Hospital Sari, and Bu Ali Sari Hospital, and were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental and control groups. Participants completed the Psychological Distress Scale (Kessler, 2002), the Emotion Regulation Difficulties Scale (Gratz, 2004), and the Fear of Disease Progression Questionnaire (Herschbach et al., 2011). Participants in the experimental group received 8 weekly 90-minute mindfulness-based education sessions. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance and SPSS-24.
Results: The findings showed that mindfulness-based education significantly improved psychological distress, emotion regulation, and fear of disease progression in women with breast cancer in the post-test and follow-up stages (p< 0.001).
Conclusion: Based on the results obtained in this study, mindfulness intervention appears to be an effective treatment for reducing psychological problems, including psychological distress, emotion regulation difficulties, and fear of disease progression in women with breast cancer. The research findings can assist mental health professionals and psychotherapists in identifying and implementing effective interventions for managing distress, emotional regulation, and fear of disease progression in women with breast cancer. Interventions that can facilitate the psychological well-being of women with breast cancer and help reduce the psychological consequences associated with the disease.
 
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Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2024/11/28 | Accepted: 2025/01/29 | Published: 2025/12/26

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