The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program on Psychological Well-Being and Dietary Adherence in Patients with Phenylketonuria
Keywords:
Mindfulness, based stress reduction program, psychological well, being, diet adherence, phenylketonuria (PKU)Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on psychological well-being and dietary adherence among patients with Phenylketonuria (PKU).
Methodology: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest, posttest, and follow-up assessments alongside a control group. The statistical population consisted of patients diagnosed with PKU who had active records in the Iranian PKU Association during 2024. Thirty eligible participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The experimental group participated in eight weekly 90-minute MBSR sessions, while the control group remained on a waiting list. Data were collected using Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale and the Dietary Adherence Questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted using repeated-measures analysis of variance and pairwise comparisons in SPSS version 21.
Findings: Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant group effects for psychological well-being (F=99.362, p<0.001, η²=0.665) and dietary adherence (F=40.737, p<0.001, η²=0.449). Significant effects were also observed for time and the interaction between time and group at the multivariate level (p<0.001). Pairwise comparisons indicated significant differences between the experimental and control groups at posttest for psychological well-being (MD=23.62, p<0.001) and dietary adherence (MD=23.00, p<0.001). These differences remained significant at follow-up for psychological well-being (MD=18.54, p<0.001) and dietary adherence (MD=23.61, p<0.001), demonstrating the sustained effectiveness of the intervention over time.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that the MBSR program is an effective psychological intervention for enhancing psychological well-being and improving dietary adherence among individuals with PKU. The maintenance of treatment gains during the follow-up period further indicates the durability of mindfulness-based skills in supporting self-regulation and coping with the challenges associated with chronic metabolic disorders. Integrating MBSR into routine multidisciplinary care may contribute to improved psychological and behavioral outcomes in this population.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Fatemeh Hooshmand, Maryam Sadat Banifatemeh, Marziyeh Jaafarzadeh Dashti, Delara Abdi, Arsalan Barekat (Author)
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