University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Feasibility study of Mi-CREW: A virtual, culturally responsive MBI for African Americans

Jones, Markera C.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121291

Description

Title
Feasibility study of Mi-CREW: A virtual, culturally responsive MBI for African Americans
Author(s)
Jones, Markera C.
Issue Date
2023-04-26
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Neville, Helen A
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Aber, Mark S
Committee Member(s)
  • Laurent, Heidemarie K
  • Gobin, Robyn L
  • Hunter, Carla D
Department of Study
Psychology
Discipline
Psychology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Mindfulness
  • Culture
  • Evidence-based treatments
  • Meditation
  • Race
  • Racism-based stress
  • Depression
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in the United States have primarily centered White culture with little consideration of cultural and contextual factors that uniquely shape the experiences of African Americans. The purpose of the present study was to assess the feasibility of Mindfully & Collectively Revolutionizing Wellness (Mi-CReW), a culturally responsive online MBI for African Americans with the purpose of introducing mindfulness as a tool for cultivating personal and collective wellness in the face of increased risk for stress-related issues. Acceptability and demand for Mi-CReW were explored. It was hypothesized that Mi-CReW would demonstrate limited efficacy by decreasing psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress), increasing mindfulness skills, and increasing self-compassion. Seventy Black adults were randomly assigned to the treatment condition or to a waitlist control condition and completed pre- and post-test surveys. Participants reported high acceptability of the sessions, high cultural relevance of the program, and a strong likelihood of recommending the program to other Black people. One-way ANCOVAs, controlling for baseline scores, revealed treatment group mindfulness was significantly higher than control group mindfulness, F(1, 57) = 44.81, p < .001, η2 = .29, but there was no significant effect of condition on depression, anxiety, stress, or self-compassion. T-tests within the treatment condition revealed treatment pa¬rticipants experienced a significant decrease in depression, t(25) = 3.78, p < .001, d = .74, and a significant increase in mindfulness, t(25) = -3.89, p < .001, d = .76, but no significant change in self-compassion, anxiety, or stress. Limitations and implications of the findings are discussed.
Graduation Semester
2023-08
Type of Resource
Thesis
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2023 Markera Jones

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