The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Positive and Negative Emotions, Sleep Quality, and Rumination in Women with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Keywords:
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, positive and negative emotions, sleep quality, rumination, irritable bowel syndromeAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on positive and negative emotions, sleep quality, and rumination among women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This applied quasi-experimental research used a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included all women diagnosed with IBS who referred to hospitals and treatment centers in Nowshahr from February 2024 to July 2024 (n=147). A sample of 30 participants was selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. Research instruments included the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson et al., 1988), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Buysse et al., 1989), and the Ruminative Response Scale (Nolen-Hoeksema & Morrow, 1991). The experimental group received eight 90-minute MBCT sessions based on Crane’s (2009) protocol. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS-27. MANCOVA results revealed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in all dependent variables—positive affect, negative affect, sleep quality, and rumination (p<0.001). Adjusted posttest means showed that positive affect increased significantly, while negative affect, rumination, and sleep disturbances decreased. The Pillai’s trace value (η²=0.868) indicated a strong intervention effect. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy effectively enhanced positive emotions while reducing negative emotions, rumination, and sleep-related problems in women with IBS. The findings support MBCT as a complementary psychological approach for improving emotional regulation, cognitive processing, and overall well-being in this clinical population.
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