Effectiveness of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction on Psychological Distress and Quality of Life among Migrain Sufferers

Abstract

The true experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in reducing psychological distress and enhancing quality of life (QoL) among migraine sufferers. Participants with migraine (N = 30) aged 18–30 years were recruited through purposive sampling and allocated using the randomized controlled trial (RCT) method to either the experimental group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15). The intervention was delivered to the experimental group, while the control group received placebo activities. Pre- and post-assessments were conducted using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ v2.1). The MBSR program consisted of an eight-week structured curriculum including guided meditation, body scan, gentle yoga, stress education, and daily mindfulness practice. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and independent t-tests. Findings demonstrated statistically significant improvements in psychological distress and QoL in the experimental group, with large effect sizes, while no significant changes were observed in the control group. The study followed ethical guidelines and ensured participant confidentiality. The findings provide strong evidence of the effectiveness of MBSR as a non-pharmacological intervention for migraine management, with potential implications for clinical and psychological practice.