Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma (ALMA): an Evaluation of a Mindfulness Intervention to Promote Mental Health among Latina Immigrant Mothers.
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Authors
- Ryan, Daron; Maurer, Serena; Lengua, Liliana; Duran, Bonnie; Ornelas, India J.
- Source
- Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. Apr2018, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p280-291. 12p. 4 Charts.
- Subject
- *IMMIGRANTS
*SYMPTOMS
*MINDFULNESS
*STRESS management
*ANXIETY
*PREVENTION of mental depression
*MENTAL health
*ANXIETY treatment
*TREATMENT of psychological stress
*ADAPTABILITY (Personality)
*COMPARATIVE studies
*MENTAL depression
*HEALTH promotion
*PSYCHOLOGY of Hispanic Americans
*INTERVIEWING
*RESEARCH methodology
*MEDICAL cooperation
*MOTHERS
*PATIENT satisfaction
*PSYCHOLOGICAL tests
*RESEARCH
*EVALUATION research
*TREATMENT effectiveness
- Language
- ISSN
- 1094-3412
Latina immigrants are at increased risk for poor mental health. Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma (ALMA) is a group-based intervention to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among Latina immigrants. Based on participants' feedback and growing evidence supporting mindfulness as a way to reduce stress and improve mental health, additional sessions of the ALMA intervention were developed and pilot tested to provide more training on mindfulness as a coping strategy. The feasibility and potential efficacy were evaluated in a community sample using a pre- and post-test study design. Findings suggested that women were satisfied with the sessions and used mindfulness strategies they learned in their daily lives. The program also reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety (19% reduction in mean depression scores and 26% reduction in mean anxiety scores). Further evaluation is needed to test the efficacy of the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]