Anxiety, Depression, Stress
Conditions
Keywords
MindUP, Mindfulness Intervention, Orphan Adolescents, Mental Health, Pakistan, School based intervention
Brief summary
This study evaluates the effectiveness of the MindUP mindfulness-based program in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress among orphan adolescents in Pakistan. Adolescents living in orphan care institutions often experience significant psychological distress due to early life adversity, loss of parental support, and institutional living conditions. A school-based quasi-experimental design was used to examine whether participation in the MindUP program improves mental health outcomes among orphan adolescents. Participants were adolescents residing in orphanages in Pakistan who were assigned to either an intervention group receiving the MindUP program or a comparison group receiving routine institutional activities. The MindUP intervention consisted of structured mindfulness and social-emotional learning sessions designed to enhance emotional regulation, attention, and psychological well-being. The program was delivered over several weeks by trained facilitators. Psychological outcomes including depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using standardized self-report scales before and after the intervention. The study aims to determine whether the MindUP program is effective in improving mental health among orphan adolescents in low-resource institutional settings.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMindUP Program
MindUP is a mindfulness-based social and emotional learning program that teaches participants skills related to mindful awareness, emotional regulation, attention, and stress management through structured exercises and activities.
Sponsors
Quaid-e-Azam University
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Participants were assigned to two parallel groups: an intervention group receiving the MindUP mindfulness-based program and a comparison group receiving routine institutional activities. Outcomes were measured at baseline and post-intervention to assess changes in depression, anxiety, and stress.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
11 Years to 16 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male adolescents aged 11-16 years. Residing in an orphan care institution. Currently enrolled in school (grades 7-8). Able to understand and participate in the MindUP program sessions. Provided assent to participate and permission obtained from the institutional authorities/guardians.
Exclusion criteria
* Adolescents currently receiving psychological or psychiatric treatment. Adolescents with severe cognitive or developmental disorders that would interfere with participation in the intervention. Adolescents who did not complete baseline assessments or were absent for most intervention sessions.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Depression Symptoms (DASS-21 Depression Subscale) | Baseline to Post-Intervention (15 weeks) | Depression symptoms were measured using the Depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Higher scores indicate greater levels of depressive symptoms. Changes from baseline to post-intervention were assessed to evaluate the effectiveness of the MindUP program. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in Stress Levels (DASS-21 Stress Subscale) | Baseline to Post-Intervention (15 weeks) |
| Change in Anxiety Symptoms (DASS-21 Anxiety Subscale) | Baseline to Post-Intervention (15 weeks) |
Countries
Pakistan
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORRubina Hanif, PhD
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
Outcome results
None listed