Studies of mindfulness

Today, we’re looking at three studies of mindfulness, each focusing on a different sample. First, Garber et al. (2024) published “A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online Mindfulness Program for Adolescents at Risk for Internalizing Problems” in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Here are the edited abstract and impact statement:

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to test the effects of an online, coached mindfulness intervention on momentary negative affect (mNA) for youth with high levels of trait negative affectivity. Participants were 111 youth ages 12 to 17 years old (M = 14.17, SD = 1.60). Youth self-identified as 68% female, 29% male, and 4.5% gender diverse; 54.55% identified as White; 31.82 reported being Hispanic/Latinx. Participants were selected for having high levels of trait negative affect and were randomized to receive either the mindfulness program or no intervention. We used ecological momentary assessment to measure stress and emotions and to derive measures of mNA comprised of stressor-independent and stressor-reactive negative affect. The ecological momentary assessment protocol involved participants completing a short survey/diary entry on Qualtrics four times per day for 5 days. Internalizing symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire–8, Generalized Anxiety Disorder–7, and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders. The mindfulness intervention resulted in a significant reduction in stressor-reactive negative affect (t = 2.001, df = 96, p = .048; Cohen’s d = .40), but not stressor-independent mNA or overall mNA. Additionally, reductions in stressor-reactive negative affect significantly correlated with changes in internalizing symptomatology (standardized β = .26, p = .032). These results indicate that among youth with high levels of trait negative affectivity, a relatively affordable and accessible digital mindfulness program significantly reduced stressor-reactive negative affect. The absence of an effect on stressor-independent or overall average mNA suggests some specificity of the effects of mindfulness to stressor-reactive negative affect in an at-risk sample of adolescents. 

Depression and anxiety in youth are serious public health concerns for which more targeted prevention efforts are needed. This randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of a digital coached mindfulness intervention aimed at regulating negative affect to prevent internalizing symptoms in at-risk adolescents. 

It makes sense that youth high in trait negativity would be more prone to internalizing symptoms. The fact that they offer an online program that isn’t costly may be especially important. Although the intervention didn’t impact stressor independent and overall momentary negative affect suggests other interventions may also be needed. The next study looks at partners. Kimmes, Zheng, Morris, Marroquin, Rudaz & Smedley (2024) published “You Are Not Fully Present with Me: How own and perceived partner mindfulness shape relationship outcomes” Journal of Family Psychology. Here’s the edited abstract:

The purpose of this study was to examine the intrapersonal and interpersonal associations among mindfulness, perceived partner mindfulness, and relationship outcomes in married couples. Mindfulness is a quality of mind that is likely to translate into observable behaviors; thus, individuals may perceive their spouse’s tendency to be mindful. Despite this, the link between perceived partner mindfulness and marital outcomes has not yet been explored. In this study, a sample of 115 married couples were recruited to complete a survey that included measures of mindfulness, perceived partner mindfulness, and several marital outcomes (e.g., positive and negative relationship quality, positive conflict communication). A series of actor–partner interdependence models demonstrated that, when accounting for both, perceived partner mindfulness outperformed self-reported mindfulness in terms of their associations with marital outcomes. For example, female perceived trait mindfulness was linked with all relationship outcomes for both themselves and their spouses, but female self-reported trait mindfulness was only significantly associated with their own negative relationship quality and their spouse’s positive conflict communication. The findings of this study suggest that perceiving one’s spouse to be more mindful may be linked with positive relationship outcomes above and beyond one’s own mindfulness. This study highlights the importance of accounting for perceived partner mindfulness in subsequent research that seeks to understand the role of mindfulness in romantic relationships as well as in clinical work with couples. 

I found this interesting because the perception of the partner’s mindfulness is more important than one’s own mindfulness in predicting good marital relationships. The final study looks at acute stress. Lindsay, Young & Creswell (2024) published “Mindfulness Training Fosters a Positive Outlook During Acute Stress: A randomized controlled trial” in Emotion.  The edited abstract follows:

The tendency to maintain a positive outlook during adversity associates with better health. Interventions that help people cope with stress by maintaining a positive perspective have potential to improve health. Mindfulness interventions show promise for enhancing positive affect in daily life, and developing acceptance toward momentary experiences may help people notice more positive experiences under stress. In a sample of 153 healthy stressed adults (Mage = 32 years; 67% female; 53% White, 22% Black, 22% Asian, 4% other race; 5% Hispanic; collected in 2015–2016), we tested whether mindfulness training, and acceptance training in particular, boosts awareness of positive experiences during acute stress. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three matched 15-lesson remote interventions: (1) Monitor + Accept, standard mindfulness instruction in both monitoring and acceptance; (2) Monitor Only, dismantled mindfulness instruction in monitoring only; or (3) Coping control. After the intervention, positive (and negative) experiences during acute stress challenge (using a modified Trier Social Stress Test) were assessed using a new checklist measure. As predicted, Monitor + Accept participants reported noticing significantly more positive experiences during acute stress than Monitor Only (d = .61) and control (d = .58) participants, whereas the number of negative experiences noticed did not differ by condition. Across conditions, positive experiences during acute stress correlated with daily life positive emotions at postintervention (r = .21). Results suggest that mindfulness training, and acceptance training in particular, can broaden awareness to include more positive affective experiences. This work has important implications for understanding coping and affect dynamics following mindfulness interventions. 

Here, I liked the finding that mindfulness, especially with acceptance training, assists in coping with acute stress, presumably by calling attention to positive experiences and emotions. Each of these studies highlights the benefits of mindfulness training for adolescent and adults.