The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training on Negative Mood and Mood Swings in Menopausal Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Payam Noor University, Tehran, iran.

2 Master's degree graduate, Psychology department, Payame Noor University, Tehran

3 Department of psychology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

4 Associate professor, Department of Psychology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in reducing negative affect and mood swings among menopausal women.
Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest-follow-up design and a control group. The study population included menopausal women referred to the Health Network of District 4 in Tehran. Thirty volunteers were selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The mean age of participants was 51.3 years. The experimental group received eight sessions of group MBSR training. Data were collected using the Negative Affect and Mood Swings questionnaires, completed at three time points. Data analysis was performed using repeated measures analysis of variance.
Results: The results indicated that MBSR training significantly reduced negative affect and mood swings in the experimental group compared to the control group at both posttest and follow-up stages (P < 0.05). The mean negative effect score in the experimental group decreased from 38.2 at pretest to 29.9 at posttest and 29.2 at follow-up, while no significant change was observed in the control group. The mean mood swings score in the experimental group also decreased from 50.0 to 41.6 and then to 41.0, with no substantial change in the control group. The intervention effects remained stable at the three-month follow-up.
Conclusion: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction can be considered an effective psychological intervention for improving negative affect and mood swings in menopausal women. It is recommended that this approach be emphasized in mental health promotion programs for women during menopause.

Keywords

Clinical Psychology and Personality

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 16 March 2026

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