The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training on Resilience and Quality of Life in Spouses of Veterans with Depressive Disorder

Abstract

Background: The spouses of war veterans diagnosed with depressive disorder often experience substantial stress and diminished well-being due to the demands of caregiving and the impact of the veteran’s condition. Objectives: The present study investigates whether mindfulness training can effectively improve resilience and perceived quality of life in spouses of veterans with depressive disorder. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with both an experimental and a control group. The target population comprised spouses of veterans diagnosed with depressive disorder, who were receiving counseling services at the Shahed Counseling Centers in Ahvaz in 2023. Thirty participants were randomly selected from this population and allocated to either the experimental group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15). The experimental group received a 10-session mindfulness training intervention, with each session lasting 90 minutes, while the control group received no intervention. Outcome measures included the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the SF-36 Questionnaire (SF-36). Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) via SPSS version 26. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between the post-test means of resilience and quality of life in the experimental and control groups (P < 0.001). The results indicated that mindfulness training led to a significant improvement in resilience and quality of life among the participants (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Mindfulness training significantly improved resilience and quality of life in spouses of veterans with depressive disorder compared to a control group. This study supports the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions for enhancing psychological well-being in this population.