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Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma (ALMA): an Evaluation of a Mindfulness Intervention to Promote Mental Health among Latina Immigrant Mothers

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Abstract

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.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Center for Child and Family Well-being at the University of Washington.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Daron Ryan MPH & India J. Ornelas PhD, MPH

  2. Department of Women Studies, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Serena Maurer PhD

  3. Center for Child and Family Well-Being, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Liliana Lengua PhD

  4. School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Bonnie Duran DrPH

Authors
  1. Daron Ryan MPH
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  2. Serena Maurer PhD
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  3. Liliana Lengua PhD
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  4. Bonnie Duran DrPH
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  5. India J. Ornelas PhD, MPH
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to India J. Ornelas PhD, MPH.

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Conflict of Interest

Liliana Lengua is the Director of the Center for Child and Family Well-being which also funded the study. None of the other authors have any conflicts of interest to report.

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Ryan, D., Maurer, S., Lengua, L. et al. Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma (ALMA): an Evaluation of a Mindfulness Intervention to Promote Mental Health among Latina Immigrant Mothers. J Behav Health Serv Res 45, 280–291 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-017-9582-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-017-9582-7

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