The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Anxiety and Quality of Life Among Clients of Counseling Centers in Shiraz

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention on reducing anxiety and improving the quality of life among clients of counseling centers in Shiraz, Iran. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a pre-test/post-test design and a control group was employed. The statistical population comprised all clients who referred to counseling centers in Shiraz between January 2025 (Dey 1403) and July 2025 (Tir 1404). From an initial pool of 80 individuals who completed screening questionnaires, 40 participants with the highest anxiety scores and lowest QoL scores were selected and randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=20) or a control group (n=20).

Results: The results of the MANCOVA indicated a statistically significant difference between the two groups on the combined dependent variables (Wilks' Lambda, F=85.2, p<0.0001, η²=0.14). Subsequent ANCOVA analyses revealed that the mindfulness intervention led to a significant reduction in anxiety levels in the experimental group compared to the control group (F=53.72, p<0.0001, η²=0.59). Similarly, a significant improvement in quality of life scores was observed in the experimental group (F=24.76, p<0.0001, η²=0.40).

Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention is highly effective in reducing anxiety and enhancing the quality of life among clients seeking psychological services in Shiraz. These results support the integration of mindfulness training into routine clinical practice in counseling and mental health centers as a powerful tool for promoting psychological well-being and overall life satisfaction.