Investigating the Effectiveness of Virtual Mindfulness-based Stress Training in on Reducing the Anxiety of Adolescents in Rehabilitation Centers during the COVID-19

Background: Mindfulness interventions were shown to be effective in reducing perceived stress in several conditions. These effects were also found in online mindfulness-based training, especially in teenagers. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of virtual mindfulness-based stress training in reducing the anxiety of adolescents in rehabilitation centers during the COVID-19. Methods: This is a semi-experimental study with a pre-test and posttest design with a control group on 30 teenagers of Zahedan Prison rehabilitation centers from September 2019 to December 2019. The sampling method was simple random using Random Allocation software, so that among the teenagers, 30 people were randomly allocated into an intervention group (with virtual mindfulness training n=15) and control group (with no intervention n=15). The participants completed the STAI-Y anxiety questionnaire one day before and 8 weeks after the intervention. Statistical analysis of the data was done through SPSS 23 software using ANCOVA test. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the control and intervention groups (P=0.001) in such a way that stress training based on mindfulness in a virtual way had a direct and significant effect on reducing anxiety. Conclusion: Considering that teenagers are a vulnerable group in the society, mindfulness training in a virtual way is a suitable approach to reducing subsequent harm, including anxiety.