Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Salivary Cortisol and α-amylase Level, Anxiety and Depression in Students: A Randomized and Parallel-Group Clinical Trial.
Saba Hassanvandi, Reza Mohammadzadegan, Seyed Hassan Saadat, Boshra Hatef, Shima Shahyad
Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback July 22, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s10484-025-09690-5 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA trial tested whether Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training affects salivary cortisol, α-amylase, anxiety, and depression in university students in Khoy, Iran. Thirty students were split equally into an MBSR group and a control group. MBSR improved general health, α-amylase level, and the α-amylase/cortisol ratio more than the control condition. The training also promoted psychological indicators (stress, anxiety, depression) and hormonal indicators (α-amylase level and α-amylase/cortisol ratio) in the experimental group compared to the control group.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | University students in Khoy, Iran |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training |
| Keywords | Cortisol Mental health Salivary α-amylase |
| Key finding | MBSR training improved general health, α-amylase level, and α-amylase/cortisol ratio in the experimental group compared to the control group. |
Abstract
The current trial aimed to assess the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training on salivary cortisol and α-amylase levels, anxiety and depression of students. This research was an experimental trial with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. The statistical population of the research included all students studying in the universities of Khoy, Iran in 2021. The sample consisted of 30 people who were assigned to two experimental and control groups equally. Stress, anxiety and depression scale (DASS-21), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and saliva samples were passively taken by ELISA laboratory method with special kits. Data analysis was done using an independent t-test and analysis of covariance using IBM-SPSS version 26 software. The results showed that MBSR training on general health, alpha-amylase level and alpha-amylase/cortisol ratio of experimental group participants was more effective than the control group (P 0.05). According to the findings, it can be argued that MBSR training has been able to promote the psychological (DASS and general health) and hormonal (alpha amylase level and alpha-amylase/cortisol ratio) mental health indicators of the experimental group participants compared to the control group.