Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41088424›Full record

Trial reportBMC psychology2025

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for perceived stress and psychosomatic symptoms in Chinese adolescent girls: a mixed-methods school-based study of parent and teacher perceptions.

YunNan Zhao

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author.

YunNan ZhaoDepartment of Teacher Education, SiChuan University of Arts and Science, DaZhou, SiChuan, 635000, China. zynsasu@126.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) integrates mindfulness practices with cognitive strategies to alleviate perceived stress and its associated symptoms. While well studied in adults, evidence for school-based MBCT among adolescents with psychosomatic complaints-particularly in China-remains limited.

methodsWe conducted a quasi-experimental, mixed-methods study in three public secondary schools in DaZhou (Sichuan, China). Female students aged 14-16 were screened (N = 1,200) using the Psychosomatic Complaints Scale (PCS; cutoff > 45) and DSM-5-informed clinical interviews; 60 eligible students were randomly allocated to MBCT (8 weekly 75-minute sessions) or school-as-usual control. To mitigate non-specific effects, controls received attention-balanced administrative contacts (weekly neutral check-ins without psychological content). Outcome assessors and the data analyst were blinded to allocation. The primary outcomes were the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; α = 0.85) and the PCS (α = 0.86), both of which were adapted for Chinese adolescents. Parent (n = 6) and teacher (n = 5) interviews were analyzed thematically (Braun & Clarke).

resultsCompared with controls, the MBCT group showed greater reductions in perceived stress and psychosomatic symptoms at post-test and two-month follow-up (Group×Time, p < .001; partial η²≈0.32-0.63). Mean reductions exceeded a conventional 0.5 SD benchmark, supporting applied relevance alongside statistical significance. Qualitative analysis yielded six themes that contextualized change: (1) reduced stress reactivity, (2) improved emotion regulation and self-awareness, (3) strengthened coping, (4) enhanced peer/family communication, (5) better classroom engagement, and (6) conditions for maintenance (practice dose, prompts, family/teacher supports).

conclusionsSchool-delivered MBCT was associated with sustained improvements in perceived stress and psychosomatic complaints among 14-16-year-old girls, with convergent qualitative evidence from parents and teachers. Interpretation remains cautious given the passive control, short follow-up, and bounded generalizability. Future work should test MBCT against attention-matched/active comparators, extend follow-up to 6-12 months, and examine mechanisms (e.g., decentering, rumination) and cultural/implementation outcomes to inform scaling in diverse Chinese school contexts.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyMindfulnessPsychophysiologic DisordersSchool TeachersStress, PsychologicalAdolescentChinaEast Asian PeopleFemaleHumansParentsSchoolsAdolescentsChinaMindfulness-based cognitive therapyMixed-methodsPerceived stressPsychosomatic symptomsSchool-based intervention

Identifiers

PMID41088424
PMCPMC12522778

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.