Effect of the MindUP Program on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Pakistani Orphan Adolescents (MINDUP-PAK)

Quaid-e-Azam University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depression; Anxiety; Stress

Treatments: Behavioral: MindUP Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07468994

NIP-MINDUP-2026

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the MindUP mindfulness-based program in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress among orphan adolescents in Pakistan. Adolescents living in orphan care institutions often experience significant psychological distress due to early life adversity, loss of parental support, and institutional living conditions.

A school-based quasi-experimental design was used to examine whether participation in the MindUP program improves mental health outcomes among orphan adolescents. Participants were adolescents residing in orphanages in Pakistan who were assigned to either an intervention group receiving the MindUP program or a comparison group receiving routine institutional activities.

The MindUP intervention consisted of structured mindfulness and social-emotional learning sessions designed to enhance emotional regulation, attention, and psychological well-being. The program was delivered over several weeks by trained facilitators.

Psychological outcomes including depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using standardized self-report scales before and after the intervention. The study aims to determine whether the MindUP program is effective in improving mental health among orphan adolescents in low-resource institutional settings.

Enrollment: 61 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 11 to 16 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male adolescents aged 11-16 years.

Residing in an orphan care institution.

Currently enrolled in school (grades 7-8).

Able to understand and participate in the MindUP program sessions.

Provided assent to participate and permission obtained from the institutional authorities/guardians.

Exclusion criteria

• Adolescents currently receiving psychological or psychiatric treatment.

Adolescents with severe cognitive or developmental disorders that would interfere with participation in the intervention.

Adolescents who did not complete baseline assessments or were absent for most intervention sessions.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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61 participants in 2 patient groups

MindUP Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group received the MindUP mindfulness-based intervention program designed to improve emotional regulation, attention, and psychological well-being. The program consisted of structured sessions focusing on mindfulness practices, social-emotional learning, and awareness exercises delivered over several weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: MindUP Program

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in this group continued their routine institutional activities and did not receive the MindUP intervention during the study period. Psychological outcomes were assessed at the same time points as the intervention group.