A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan for subthreshold depression adolescents

Figures & data

Figure 1 Study flow diagram: enrollment to analysis.

Abbreviation: MTCC, mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan.

Table

Week 1–1: approaching mindfulness and TCC

Demonstration: mindfulness and related skills; benefits of TCC and mindfulness Practice: cultivate mindfulness exercise (mindfulness-based awareness training) Training: mindfulness-based breathing and walking meditation

Week 1–2: basic theory and introduction of 24 short-form TCC

Demonstration: essentials of TCC; introduction of 24 short-form Practice: TCC shape-up exercise Training: head, neck, shoulder, elbow, chest, back, wrist, spine, hip gestures

Week 2–3: combine mindfulness with TCC

Demonstration: relationship of mindfulness with TCC Practice: no judgment shape-up exercise Training: combining mind and body together

Week 2–4: commencing form and Part the Wild Horse’s Mane on Both Side

Demonstration: illustration of two gestures of TCC Practice: commencing form and Part the Wild Horse’s Mane on Both Side Training: stand in lines to practice one by one

Week 3–5: White Crane Spreads its Wings and Brush Knee and Twist Step on Both Side Week 3–6: Play Pipa and Repulse Monkey Week 4–7: Grasp the Bird’s Tail and Grasp the Bird’s Tail Week 4–8: Single Whip and Wave Hands Like Clouds Week 5–9: Single Whip and High Pat on Horse Week 5–10: Kick with Right Heel and Strike Opponent’s Ears with Both Fists Week 6–11: Turn and Kick with Left Heel and Snake Creeps Down (left) Week 6–12: Snake Creeps Down (right) and Jade Lady Weaves Shuttles Week 7–13: Needle at Sea Bottom and Flash the Arm Week 7–14: Turn, Deflect Downward, Parry and Punch and Apparent Close up Week 8–15: Cross Hands and Closing Form

Demonstration: illustration of related two gestures of TCC Practice: related gestures practice Training: stand in lines to practice one by one

Week 8–16: Summary

Demonstration: sum up the skills and the core of practice (in the present moment and nonjudgmental TCC) Practice: all the difficulties encountered during previous practice were revealed and solved Training: each participant developed a suitable practice pattern for themselves and related resources and contact methods were provided to facilitate further practice

Abbreviations: MTCC, mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan; TCC, Tai Chi Chuan.

Table 1 Comparison of two groups on PHQ-9, MAAS, and CPSS

	MTCC M (SD)		Control M (SD)		F	P-value	η2
	Pre	Post	Pre	Post
PHQ-9	8.66 (2.12)	6.03 (2.18)	8.23 (2.11)	8.10 (2.52)
Time effect					72.896	<0.001	0.549
Time×group effect					59.482	<0.001	0.498
Group effect					2.280	0.136	0.037
MAAS	52.00 (5.00)	57.69 (4.79)	52.47 (6.36)	52.83 (6.74)
Time effect					48.518	<0.001	0.447
Time×group effect					37.476	<0.001	0.384
Group effect					2.468	0.121	0.040
CPSS	27.19 (3.86)	24.12 (2.96)	26.90 (3.56)	26.53 (3.37)
Time effect					28.084	<0.001	0.319
Time×group effect					17.270	<0.001	0.224
Group effect					1.638	0.206	0.027

Abbreviations: MTCC, mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan; PHQ-9, nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire; MAAS, Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale; CPSS, Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale.

Table 2 Pre–post comparison of independent group on PHQ-9, MAAS, and CPSS

PHQ-9			Effect size (d)	Standard error	P-value	95% CI
						Lower bound	Higher bound
MTCC	Pre	Post	2.625	0.225	<0.001	2.175	3.075
Control	Pre	Post	0.133	0.232	0.568	−0.331	0.598
MAAS			Effect size	Standard error	P-value	95% CI
						Lower bound	higher bound
MTCC	Pre	Post	−5.688	0.605	<0.001	−6.897	−4.478
Control	Pre	Post	−0.367	0.624	0.559	−1.616	0.882
CPSS			Effect size	Standard error	P-value	95% CI
						Lower bound	Higher bound
MTCC	Pre	Post	3.031	0.446	<0.001	2.139	3.923
Control	Pre	Post	0.367	0.461	0.429	−0.555	1.288

Abbreviations: MTCC, mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan; PHQ-9, nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire; MAAS, Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale; CPSS, Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale.

Table 3 Pre–post comparison of two groups on PHQ-9, MAAS and CPSS

PHQ-9			Effect size	Standard error	P-value	95% CI
						Lower bound	Higher bound
Pre	MTCC	Control	0.423	0.538	0.435	−0.653	1.498
Post	MTCC	Control	−2.069	0.597	0.001	−3.264	−0.874
MAAS			Effect size	Standard error	P-value	95% CI
						Lower bound	Higher bound
Pre	MTCC	Control	−0.467	1.448	0.748	−3.363	2.429
Post	MTCC	Control	4.854	1.477	0.002	1.899	7.809
CPSS			Effect size	Standard error	P-value	95% CI
						Lower bound	Higher bound
Pre	MTCC	Control	0.288	0.944	0.762	−1.600	2.175
Post	MTCC	Control	−2.377	0.805	0.004	−3.987	−0.767

Abbreviations: MTCC, mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan; PHQ-9, nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire; MAAS, Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale; CPSS, Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale.

Table 4 Depression outcome by groups after intervention (n=62)

	MTCC group (n=32)	Control group (n=30)	Fisher’s exact test P-value
Categorical outcomes			<0.001
No depression	21 (65.63%)	2 (6.67%)
Subthreshold depression	11 (34.37%)	27 (90%)
Major depression	0 (0%)	1 (3.33%)

Abbreviation: MTCC, mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan.