Gratitude Enhanced Mindfulness (GEM): A pilot study of an internet-delivered programme for self-management of pain and disability in people with arthritis

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to test an online mindfulness and gratitude intervention for self-management of arthritis. It was hypothesized that the intervention would decrease pain anxiety, intensity and interference, fear of movement, and increase pain self-efficacy for a group of self-referred people with arthritis. The intervention consisted of four once-weekly programmes which included animated guides, audio guided mindfulness exercises and a gratitude programme. One hundred and fifty-one people enrolled in the study. Data from 81 people who completed the trial and questionnaires was analysed. Pain anxiety, pain interference, pain intensity, fear of movement and pain self-efficacy were all improved by the intervention as hypothesized. This pilot study lends support to both gratitude and mindfulness being appropriate interventions for physical health conditions and demonstrates how they can be used in combination. Additionally, this shows the potential of online delivery for positive health interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Gratitude
• mindfulness
• pain
• arthritis
• online

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Arthritis New Zealand;