The federal government of Malaysia implemented a nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) to control the COVID-19 outbreak. The MCO, however, has been found to have a negative impact on people's mental wellbeing. Interventions that can improve mental health under restricted movement condition is urgently. The present study investigated the impact of a brief, online mindfulness-based intervention on mental health using two-arm randomized controlled trial design. A total of 161 participants self-reported their feeling, anxiety, psychological insecurity, and well-being at baseline (T1) and post-test (T2), while 61 of them answered the same set of measures and the fear of COVID-19 scale in a follow-up study two weeks later (T3).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
161
We adapted and contextualized the original RAIN protocol to local pandemic-induced lockdown situation, with short journaling prompts that engage participants in self-reflection. Journaling is known to be a creative way to engage people in a therapeutic activity which promotes self-awareness (Utley \& Garza, 2011). Creating a visual narration of thoughts, feelings and experiences help individuals make internal experiences more tangible and manageable, especially during these uncertain times.
The control group participants were asked to report preventive measures that they have taken to prevent COVID-19, ways that they obtained Movement Control Order news, and things that they wished to do once the Movement Control Order is lifted.
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
Kampar, Perak, Malaysia
Changes of Subjective Unit of Distress
This is being measured with the Subject Unit of Distress Scale.
Time frame: It was measured at pre-intervention, post-intervention (through intervention completion, on average 10 minutes), and 2-week follow up.
Changes of Anxiety Scores
This is being measured with the GAD-7 questionnaire.
Time frame: It was being It was measured at pre-intervention, post-intervention (through intervention completion, on average 10 minutes), and 2-week follow up.
Changes of Psychological Insecurity
This is being measured with the Psychological Insecurity Scale.
Time frame: It was being It was measured at pre-intervention, post-intervention (through intervention completion, on average 10 minutes), and 2-week follow up.
Changes of General Well-being
This is being measured with the WHO-5 Well-being Index questionnaire.
Time frame: It was being It was measured at pre-intervention, post-intervention (through intervention completion, on average 10 minutes), and 2-week follow up.
Fear of COVID-19
This is being measured with the Fear of COVID-19 Scale.
Time frame: It was being measured at 2-week follow up.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.