Effect of Brief Mindfulness Intervention on Stress Level and Psychological Well Being of Malaysian Young Adults

Running Head: EFFECT OF BRIEF MINDFULNESS INTERVENTION ON STRESS LEVEL
AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING OF MALAYSIAN YOUNG ADULTS
Topic: Mindfulness among Young Adults

EFFECT OF BRIEF MINDFULNESS INTERVENTION ON STRESS LEVEL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING OF MALAYSIAN YOUNG ADULTS
2
Mindfulness among Young Adults
Literature Review of Mindfulness and its Application on Young Adults
Mindfulness-based stress reduction minimizes the stress and first introduced by Jon
Kabat-Zinn in 1979 (Bamuhair, 2015). Mindfulness-based stress reduction has been adapted over
250 hospitals around the country chronic pain and much more (Dahl, Lutz & Davidson, 2015). In
the current times to promote fabric in the society, it is mandatory to promote mental health and
reduce stress level among young adult (Mrazek, Franklin, Phillips, Baird & Schooler, 2013:
Turashvili & Japaridze, 2013). Here the question arises how to reduce the stress level among
young adults in the current modern and mechanical civilization. The literature provides a
satisfactory answer for those question, mindfulness-based stress reduction program are effective
ways to reduce stress level among young adults (Mrazek et al., 2013: Turashvili & Japaridze,
2013).
The substantial body of researches explains the effectiveness of mindfulness application
among young adults (Durlak, Weissberg, Dymnicki, Taylor & Schellinger, 2011: Zeidan,
Emerson, Farris, Ray, Jung, McHaffie & Coghill, 2015). A study has been carried out to assess
the effectiveness mindfulness impact on young adult stress level. The results of the study
indicated significant stress reduction among young adults after receiving mindfulness-based
stress reduction interventions (Desbordes, Gard, Hoge, Hölzel, Kerr, Lazar & Vago, 2015).
Another study has been carried out among older adolescents and young adults of diabetic
patients. The participants were given mindfulness-based stress reduction, and the results of the
studies suggested that satisfaction with mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention was high
which further enhanced the glucose level of the patients (Ellis, 2017). A meta-analysis among
adolescents and young adults has been carried out to assess the effectiveness of mindfulness-

EFFECT OF BRIEF MINDFULNESS INTERVENTION ON STRESS LEVEL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING OF MALAYSIAN YOUNG ADULTS
3
based stress reduction for the treatment of depression. References in articles and research
database were searched to find the relevant empirical data. Eighteen Randomized control trials
featuring 2,042 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis
suggested that mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention moderate the level of depression
among participants.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques have been implemented on diverse
university population (Durlak et al., 2011: Zeidan et al.., 2015). The results of the studies
suggested that mindfulness-based stress reduction not merely moderate the stress level but also
effective in promoting awareness among individual about their internal self (Irshad, Saleem &
Mahmood, 2015). The young adults have been a topic of concern among researchers and
psychologist for mindfulness-based stress reduction program, and it has been observed that the
ratio of stress is primarily associated with adolescents and early adulthood. As far as age is
concerned, Similar results have been investigated in the comparative studies such as young
females experience more stress than males among Malaysian population (Yusoff, 2010: Hölzel,
Lazar, Gard, Schuman-Olivier, Vago & Ott, 2011).
The universities students were given the mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention,
and the results suggested that MBSR moderate the level of stress (Waghachavare, Dhumale,
Kadam, & Gore, 2013: Irshad et al., 2015). According to Kumar, & Bhukar, (2013) the MBSR
found to be negatively correlated with stress. Lim, Condon, & DeSteno, (2015) concluded that
mindfulness-based techniques develop to promote mental health among participants. The
empirical and theoretical literature has recommended some effective strategies to reduced stress
level using mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques (Irshad et al., 2015).

EFFECT OF BRIEF MINDFULNESS INTERVENTION ON STRESS LEVEL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING OF MALAYSIAN YOUNG ADULTS
4
Stress among Malaysian Young Adults
The stress occurs due to the state of threat or challenge between the normal rhythm of life
Asia-Donkoh, Yelkpieri, & Esia-Donkoh, 2011). Stress is the most prevalent mental health
issues throughout the world (Goyal et al., 2014: Singer, & Klimecki, 2014). In Malaysia, the
ratio of stress among young adult found too high. A study has been carried out to assess the
stress level among Malaysian students administering students stress inventory. According to
results, 29% student of Malaysia reported medium stress while 71% of students reported low-
stress level. The suicidal rates due to stress in Malaysian youth also found to be higher (Suleman,
Hassan, Saapian,& Abdullah, 2009). Therefore the Malaysian version of stress based reduction
program found to be effective in decreasing the rates of the stress among young adults (Durlak et
al., 2011: Zeidan et al.., 2015). The level of stress among Malaysian students have increased to
an alarming extent, which is leading more psychological and behavioral issues such as suicidal
ideation, suicidal attempts, isolation, lack of empathy, low activity, fundamental belief and
radical thinking (Waghachavare et al., 2013: Irshad et al., 2015).
According to a study, the ratio of stress is increasing day by day among adults including
doctors, the university student, employed or unemployed people (Yusoff, 2010: Hölzel et al.,
2011). The ratio among females has increased to a greater extent (Irshad et al., 2015). The
implementations of mindfulness-based stress reductions are imperative to promote mental health
and positive thinking among young adults (Mrazek et al., 2013: Turashvili & Japaridze, 2013).
Mindfulness and its Psychological Applicability
The psychological applicability of mindfulness is wide and used to heal multiple
psychological issues such as depression, anxiety stress, mood, fear, frustration, dissociative and
personality disorders (Madlan, Bahari, & Ardillah 2012: Tang, Hölzel & Posner, 2015).