Role of Mindfulness Meditation on Pain Sensation, Stress Reduction, Anxiety, and Sleep Quality of Young Adult Female Patients with Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain

Introduction: Mindfulness refers to bring attention to the current moment. Objectives: Mindfulness or meditation–based interventions help to improve pain symptomology across a wide range of pain-connected disorders. Material and Methods: A total of 60 female participants, aged 19-40 years (mean age 32.33), who were diagnosed with non-specific chronic low back pain by physicians, were selected for the present study. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: 1. the study group (involved in mindfulness meditation practice, i.e., body scan & thought observation, and usual medical care, i.e., pharmacotherapy & physiotherapy); and 2. the control group (not involved in any meditation practice, only received usual medical care, i.e., pharmacotherapy & physiotherapy). The participants were assessed by the mcgill pain questionnaire, sleep quality scale (SQS), state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), and perceived stress scales (PSS) at pre- and post-intervention levels. Data were examined using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, Mann- Whitney U Test, and Spearman’s Rank Correlation. Results: Results revealed that mindfulness meditation practice helped the study group perceive a significantly lesser amount of pain ( p< 0.01). Their perceived stress ( p< 0.01) and anxiety ( p< 0.01) levels decreased; sleeping quality ( p < 0.01) improved. Conclusion: Mindfulness meditation (body scan, thought observation) practice was effective in reducing pain sensation, stress level, and anxiety levels. It helped to improve the sleep quality of young adult female patients with Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain.