Development and Preliminary Evaluation of Mindfulness-Based Anxiety Reduction (MBAR) for Chinese Professionals

Abstract

This study developed and preliminarily evaluated Mindfulness-Based Anxiety Reduction (MBAR), a brief online intervention for Chinese professionals experiencing overlapping work, family, and intrapersonal stress. The study aimed to identify participants’ psychological needs, iteratively refine MBAR by integrating Buddhist-informed principles with selected psychological techniques, and examine the program’s feasibility, acceptability, and immediate participant-reported outcomes.

Using a mixed-methods action research design, the research first involved 13 multidisciplinary key informants (4 Buddhist scholars, 3 meditation masters, 3 psychotherapists, and 3 professionals) in a needs assessment. A total of 22 workplace participants then took part across four iterative Plan-Act-Observe-Reflect (PAOR) cycles. The 22 participants were divided into four independent groups of 6, 5, 6, and 5 participants, respectively, with each participant attending only one cycle. The core structure of MBAR remained consistent, while safety prompts, alternative visualization instructions, and grounding procedures were progressively refined in response to participant feedback. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus-group discussions, open-ended feedback, and standardized self-report measures. The four cycles progressively refined a brief, single-session online MBAR workshop centered on Heart-Amber Awareness and Heart-Amber Mellowing, which translated Buddhist-informed reflections on impermanence (Anicca), non-self (Anattā), and loving-kindness (Mettā) into accessible experiential practices.

Immediate post-session assessments showed within-group score changes across several outcomes, accompanied by qualitative reports of reduced bodily tension, greater distance from distress, and a less self-critical stance. These findings should be interpreted cautiously because the study used a small, uncontrolled sample; intervention refinements varied across PAOR rounds; reassessments were immediate; and measures had standard recall periods that exceeded the workshop duration. Accordingly, the results provide preliminary evidence of feasibility and acceptability rather than clinical effectiveness. Further evaluation should use a standardized intervention protocol, control or comparison conditions, validated timing of outcome assessment, adverse-event monitoring, and longer follow-up.