The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Adjustment and Health Anxiety in Patients with Cancer

Fatemeh Rahbari; Atena Martami; Hosna Habibi Shahandasht; Soodabeh AbbaszadehAmiri; Eshagh SamKhaniani

Authors

Fatemeh Rahbari Master's student of Positive Psychology. Semnan Payam Noor University, Semnan, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4282-9305
Atena Martami Master's student of Clinical Psychology, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9690-2933
Hosna Habibi Shahandasht Master of General Psychology, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6705-8103
Soodabeh AbbaszadehAmiri Master of Educational Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Torbat Heydariyeh Branch, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1041-5696
Eshagh SamKhaniani Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Ayandegan University, Tonekabon, Iran https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5377-8860

Keywords:

mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, adjustment, health anxiety, patients with cancer

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on adjustment and health anxiety in patients with cancer. The research employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population of the present study consisted of individuals with depression who attended counseling centers in Tehran in 2025. From this population, 30 participants were selected using convenience sampling and were then randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The instruments used for data collection were the Adjustment Questionnaire and the Health Anxiety Questionnaire. Subsequently, the experimental group received eight 2-hour sessions of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, whereas the control group received no specific intervention. The findings indicated that the mean scores of adjustment and health anxiety at posttest differed significantly from the pretest scores in the experimental group. Therefore, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is effective in improving adjustment and reducing health anxiety in patients with cancer.

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