A Pilot and Feasibility Trial of a Group Mindfulness and Self-compassion Intervention for Young People Diagnosed With IBD

Young people with IBD face all the usual complexities of growing up, with the additional complications of having a chronic health condition, often recently diagnosed, which can have a detrimental impact on their mental health. This research seeks to examine the potential effectiveness of a two-stage intervention for young people with IBD via a pilot feasibility trial. First, a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) group with a "Mindfulness based compassionate living" (MBCL) group delivered soon afterwards. Both interventions will be delivered online. MBSR aims to increase peoples awareness of their tendency to get caught up in thoughts and help them live in the present moment. Once an individual has achieved greater awareness of their thought processes, MBCL then aims to help individuals to become kinder to themselves, and less critical. We know from interview studies with young people with IBD that they can be harsh on themselves about how they are coping, and being harsh and critical can impact wellbeing. By targeting mindfulness and self-compassion we hope to demonstrate a positive impact on wellbeing, by reducing stress, anxiety and depression and improving quality of life (primary outcome measures) for young people with IBD and equip them with a mindfulness practice to use in the future as they continue to manage their IBD.