Mindfulness Intervention Program Research Articles

Effects of a brief mindfulness intervention program: Changes in mindfulness and self-compassion predict increased tolerance of uncertainty in trainee psychologists.

Effects of a brief mindfulness intervention program: Changes in mindfulness and self-compassion predict increased tolerance of uncertainty in trainee psychologists.

The Effect of Mindfulness on Death Escape Acceptance in Young People: Emotion Regulation as a Mediator.

Few studies have examined young people's attitudes toward death escape acceptance and its relationship to mindfulness. This study addressed this issue and examined the mediating role of emotion regulation. In Study 1, 61 undergraduate students aged 19-22years participated in a mindfulness intervention program, and the results showed that increasing young people's levels of mindfulness could improve their attitudes toward death escape acceptance. The Study 2, which recruited 440 young people aged 18-26years to complete a cross-sectional survey, replicated the main effect and showed that young people's difficulty in emotion regulation fully mediated the coping effect of mindfulness. These findings suggest that individuals with high levels of mindfulness may have low levels of difficulty in emotion regulation and in turn promote healthy attitudes toward death escape acceptance.

The Effect of Mindfulness Practice on Adolescents: A Pilot Study

Background: Adolescents experience various emotional, cognitive, and behavioral issues for which there is emerging evidence for mindfulness-based interventions, but these have not been investigated with Indian adolescents. Objectives: To study the impact of mindfulness practices on attention, perceived stress, emotional competence, and mental health among high school adolescents. Method: A single group theme-based 4-week (12 sessions) mindfulness intervention program was conducted on school-going adolescents with a pre-post scale-based assessment design. Results: Thirty-nine out of 45 recruited participants (mean age 15.9 ± 0.56 years; M:F = 2:1) completed the study with high session attendance rates (82.05%–100%). On a paired t-test, there was a significant improvement on the Digit Letter Substitution Test ( p < .001), the Perceived Stress Scale ( p < .001), and three subscales of the Emotional Competencies Scale-Revised ( p < .001–.004). Analysis of non-normal data on the Wilcoxon sign-ranked test revealed significant improvement in the Adequate Depth of Feeling subscale of Emotional Competence ( p < .001) and all subscales of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-Teacher Version ( p < .001–.048) Conclusion: The results indicate that formal mindfulness-based practices for adolescents have significant psychological benefits. Further randomized controlled effectiveness trials are required to establish effectiveness in the non-clinical adolescent population.

How Mindfulness Strategies Can Support Social and Emotional Learning Skill Development for Elementary Grade Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

The best social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum can be difficult to implement when students with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) are unregulated and unprepared to engage in instruction. Daily mindfulness practices can help students with and at risk for EBD regulate their emotions and behaviors and be prepared for instruction. In this article, we provide examples and models of how informal mindfulness strategies can be incorporated into the elementary classroom to support student SEL growth. We also address how SEL instruction can be intensified using explicit mindfulness intervention programs to help meet the needs of students with EBD.

Integrating Mindfulness Meditation Into the Organizational Behaviour Curriculum

There is a body of evidence demonstrating the positive relationship between mindfulness and a range of Organizational Behaviour (OB) based skills and capabilities. These include perception, emotional regulation, stress management, ethical decision-making, and teamwork. Based on this research, a 10- module introductory mindfulness program was developed for use in Organizational Behaviour classes. This program was successfully introduced to undergraduate, organizational behaviour classes, and was found to ‘set the stage’ for student participation and reduce stress for 72% of participants. This article expands on existing research on targeted mindfulness intervention programs through the development and initial testing of an OB-specific program.

Mindfulness intervention improves executive functions of depressed individuals and their neural mechanism

<p indent="0mm">By 2030, depression is expected to become a global economic burden due to its serious effect on people’s physical and mental health. According to LeMoult and Gotlib’s cognitive theory of depression, individuals with depression have executive function defects, which lead to negative cognitive processing bias and increased use of non-adaptive emotional regulation strategies such as rumination. According to Beevers’ dual processing theory of cognitive vulnerability to depression, individuals with depression use more negative automatic processing and less reflective processing, which results in bad mood cycles. This review suggests that executive functions are closely related to reflective processing and that the improvement of executive functions provides depressed individuals with more cognitive resources for such processing. This is because the improvement of executive functions reduces the bias of negative cognitive processing and the negative automatic processing mentioned in the dual processing theory of cognitive vulnerability to depression. The decentralized mechanism of mindfulness can effectively improve executive functions, trigger reflective processing, particularly in depressed individuals, correct negative automatic thinking, and alleviate depressive symptoms. Depressive individuals have defects in working memory, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition and maintain cognitive processing biases consistent with depressive mood. Therefore, executive function defects may be an important cognitive dispositional factor for individuals with depression. Mindfulness interventions can alleviate depressive symptoms and negative cognitive processing biases by improving executive functions. This review compared two studies published in <italic>Nature Reviews Neuroscience</italic> on the cognitive neural mechanisms of mindfulness and depression respectively, and then suggested that the intrinsic functional connectivity of the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, default mode network, and frontal limbic system is an important neural mechanism for mindfulness intervention’s effect on the executive function defects of depressed individuals. Specifically, mindfulness intervention can activate the anterior cingulate gyrus in depressed individuals and enhance the functional connection between the prefrontal lobe and anterior cingulate gyrus, which is the neural mechanism of attentional control in mindfulness intervention. Improvements in attentional control are conducive to the inhibition of depressed individuals’ responses to negative stimuli. Mindfulness interventions can effectively reduce the activation of the amygdala in depressed individuals and enhance the functional connection between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which is the neural mechanism for emotional regulation in depressed individuals. This can reduce attentional bias to negative stimuli and the feeling of negative emotions. Mindfulness interventions can also effectively reduce the activation level of the default mode network in depressed individuals and enhance the control of the central executive network, which is the neural mechanism that aids mindfulness in improving meta-awareness. Improvements in meta-awareness help depressed individuals reduce negative self-reference processing and rumination. Future research should first explore the interactions between the three components of executive functions in individuals with depression. The executive functions that are the most effective predictors of depression should also be explored. Next, the aspect of mindfulness intervention that has the largest effect on the executive functions of individuals with depression should be clarified, specifically, which executive functions of mindfulness intervention has the most obvious effect on depressed individuals—whether “Awareness” or “Acceptance” is the core component of the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions on individuals with depression. This should be proved by randomized dismantling trial. Finally, mindfulness intervention programs should be developed to improve the efficacy of depression treatment. “Acceptance” may be a key component of the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for individuals with depression. Morita therapy can be integrated into the daily practice of mindfulness to improve individuals’ acceptance of negative events. Cognitive impairment in individuals with subclinical depression is not very severe. Thus, cognitive training can first improve the cognitive functions of individuals with subclinical depression; then, mindfulness interventions that increase the acceptance can consolidate cognitive functions and relieve depressive symptoms.

Mindfulness-based practices, psychological capital, burnout and performance anxiety

PurposeThe study examined the role of classroom-based mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) on psychological capital, burnout, and performance anxiety among business executives.Design/Methodology/Approach52 mid-level and senior leaders filled up a structured questionnaire on mindfulness, psychological capital, and performance anxiety before and after the intervention. They also participated in 2 week-long classroom-based mindfulness intervention programs for 1 hour daily.FindingsThe finding suggests that mindfulness-based intervention significantly improved PsyCap and reduced burnout and performance anxiety among the executives.Research limitations/implicationsSelf-report measures, sample size, and programmed duration could be a limitation. We can plan long-term (4 weeks) intervention on cross-section data for better outcomes and generalizations.Research implicationsMindfulness-based interventions can help save healthcare costs by reducing anxiety and burnout. Leaders can also quantify the value of such intervention for developing PsyCap.Practical implicationsManagement should conduct mindfulness-based training programs, and leaders can practice it in their daily routine to improve psychological resources to reduce stress and better face workplace challenges.Originality/valueThe study's contribution was using the classroom-based mindfulness-based intervention to improve psychological capital and reduce dysfunctional outcomes in leaders.

Long-term Effects of a Brief Mindfulness Intervention Versus a Health Enhancement Program for Treating Depression and Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background:Depression and anxiety affect approximately 50% of patients with kidney failure receiving hemodialysis and are associated with decreased quality of life and increased risk of hospitalization and mortality. A Brief Mindfulness Intervention (BMI) may be promising in treating depressive and anxiety symptoms in this population, but the long-term sustainability of the intervention’s effects is unknown.Objective:We previously conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT; n = 55) comparing an 8-week BMI with an active control (Health Enhancement Program [HEP]) for patients receiving dialysis, with depression and/or anxiety. Here, we examine the 6-month follow-up data to determine the long-term sustainability of BMI versus HEP in reducing (1) depressive symptoms, (2) anxiety symptoms, and (3) the efficacy of BMI versus HEP in reducing the likelihood of hospitalization.Design:In this study, we analyzed 6-month follow-up data from an 8-week assessor-blinded parallel RCT, which evaluated the efficacy of a BMI against an active control, HEP, in patients receiving hemodialysis with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety.Setting:The study took place at hemodialysis centers in 4 tertiary-care hospitals in Montreal, Canada.Participants:Participants included adults aged ≥18 years who were receiving in-center hemodialysis 3 times per week and had symptoms of depression and/or anxiety as indicated by a score ≥6 on the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9) and/or the General Anxiety Disorder–7 (GAD-7).Methods:Participants were randomized to the treatment arm (BMI) or the active control arm (HEP) and completed assessments at baseline, 8 weeks, and 6-month follow-up. Depression was assessed using the PHQ-9, and anxiety was assessed by the GAD-7. Hospitalization rates were assessed using medical chart information.Results:We observed significant decrease in depression scores over 6 months in both BMI and HEP groups, with no significant difference between groups. Anxiety scores significantly decreased over 6 months, but only in the BMI group. Brief Mindfulness Intervention and Health Enhancement Program were comparable in terms of hospitalization rates.Limitations:The limitations of our study include the modest sample size and lack of a third arm such as a waitlist control.Conclusions:Our results suggest that the beneficial effects of BMI and HEP for improving mood disorder symptoms in patients receiving dialysis persist at 6-month follow-up. Both interventions showed sustained effects for depressive symptoms, but BMI may be more useful in this population given its efficacy in reducing anxiety symptoms as well.Trial registration:Prior to recruitment, the trial had been registered (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03406845).

Differential Effects of Mindfulness-Based Intervention Programs at Work on Psychological Wellbeing and Work Engagement.

Two different mindfulness-based interventions were deployed in a sample of white-collar workers to explore the differential effects on different facets of mindfulness, dimensions of psychological wellbeing, work engagement, performance, and stress of a participant. A total of 28 participants completed one of the different programs, and their results were compared between groups and against 27 participants randomly allocated to a waiting list control group. Results suggest both mindfulness intervention programs were successful at increasing the levels of psychological wellbeing, work engagement, and performance of the participants, as well as decreasing their levels of stress. Significant differences were found between the two programs in all outcome variables. Results suggest that brief and customized mindfulness interventions at work are as successful as lengthier programs.

Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention Program for Women Family Caregivers of Older Adults.

Background: The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention program for the promotion of well-being and health in family caregivers. Methods: The participants were 111 family women caregivers aged between 33 and 75 years old. This was a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. The mindfulness intervention program lasted 12 weeks. The experimental group underwent mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions (MABIs). The control group performed physical activity training. Results: A cross-lagged panel analysis was computed with the two waves of health, well-being, burden and resilience and age in years and intervention as predictors. The cross-lagged path model fit well χ2 (8) = 7.179, p = 0.51, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.00, comparative fit index (CFI) = 1.00, standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.05. The mindfulness intervention program was a significant predictor accounting for decreasing health problems (β = −0.292, p < 0.01) and burden (β = −0.190, p < 0.01) and increasing well-being (β = 0.107, p < 0.05) at post-test. Conclusions: Mindfulness-based intervention programs are effective in coping with the burden of family caregivers and, in turn, in promoting resilience, well-being and health among caregivers. Our findings encourage clinical uses of mindfulness interventions to promote health.

Developing Mindfulness: A Software-Based Intervention

We studied the effects of mindfulness on emotional exhaustion, work engagement and job satisfaction in a field study involving full-time employees who participated in a mindfulness intervention program and reported their weekly outcomes during the 8-week program. To examine how mindfulness impacted work outcomes, we used intraindividual modelling of the eight-week data. Mindfulness increased over time, and was a mediator between time and emotional exhaustion, work engagement and job satisfaction. Supplementary growth curve analyses on the improvement of mindfulness over time showed a slight decrease in the positive effect of time on mindfulness

Brief Mindfulness Intervention vs. Health Enhancement Program for Patients Undergoing Dialysis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Between 20–50% of patients undergoing maintenance dialysis for end-stage kidney disease experience symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, associated with increased mortality, greater health care utilization, and decreased quality of life. It is unknown whether mindfulness-based interventions can improve depression and anxiety symptoms in patients receiving this treatment. Methods: We conducted an 8-week multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing a brief mindfulness intervention (BMI) vs. an active control (Health Enhancement Program [HEP]) in 55 patients receiving dialysis with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. The primary outcome was change in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression scores, with a primary analysis in participants with baseline PHQ-9 ≥ 10, and a secondary analysis including all participants. The secondary outcome was change in Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) anxiety scores with corresponding primary and secondary analyses. Results: Both BMI and HEP reduced depressive symptoms, with no difference between trial arms (PHQ-9 change = −7.0 vs. −6.1, p = 0.62). BMI was more effective than HEP in reducing anxiety (GAD-7 change = −8.7 vs. −1.4, p = 0.01). Secondary analyses revealed no differences between arms. Conclusions: For patients undergoing dialysis, both BMI and HEP may be helpful interventions for depression symptoms, and BMI may be superior to HEP for anxiety symptoms. Mindfulness-based and other psychosocial interventions may be further evaluated in those undergoing dialysis as treatment options for symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Improvement of attention and stress levels in students through a Mindfulness intervention program

Mindfulness is the quality of being conscious and aware of the present moment harmonizing mind and body. This study presents a six-week intervention program carried out in four educational establishments in Granada with 5th and 6th grade primary school students and 1st, 2nd and 3rd year secondary school students. The aim was to find out whether Mindfulness has positive effects in terms of improving students’ attention and reducing stress. The samples were 320 students; a quasi-experimental design was used. We collected socio-demographic and family data and carried out a pre-test to measure the attention variable by means of the d2 questionnaire and the stress variable with the Inventory Questionnaire of Childhood Stress. Following the intervention, we carried out a post-test using the same instruments. A mixed linear model was used to study the effects of the Mindfulness program. The results show that applying a Mindfulness program improves attention and reduces stress in these students, with differences by sex, school- and ages.

The Effects of School-based Mindfulness Intervention on Executive Functioning in a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT Executive functions (EFs) are essential for student’s learning and classroom functioning. The current cluster randomized controlled trial examines the effects of mindfulness intervention vs. active control program (i.e., relaxation) focusing on the main EFs (i.e., working memory, response inhibition, cognitive processing, cognitive flexibility and verbal fluency). A total of 131 students from 6th grade and 8th grade (median age 12 and 15) from four comprehensive schools participated. The schools were to equal shares randomized to intervention and active control groups, i.e., groups who underwent a 9-week mindfulness practice or relaxation program, respectively. Participants completed a cognitive test-package at baseline/pre-intervention, post-intervention at 9 weeks and follow-up at 6 months. Both intervention and active relaxation-based control groups improved on a majority of EF measures at both 9 weeks and 6 months. There was no significant difference between the mindfulness intervention group and the active control program in EFs.The current study suggests that mindfulness intervention and active control program do not differ in their effects to EFs, although both may have positive outcomes. Further research with both active and inactive control groups is needed to map the potential benefits of similar programs for cognitive functioning.

Effect of mindfulness intervention versus health education program on salivary Aβ-42 levels in community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundFew randomized controlled trials have investigated the effects of mindfulness intervention on older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Specifically, scarce literature exists on the potential benefits of mindfulness intervention on biomarkers representing AD hallmarks. Our previous studies showed the potential of Mindful Awareness Practice (MAP) in improving multiple biomarkers of gut microbiota, systemic inflammation, and synaptic functions. Extending these findings, in this study, we conducted analysis on bio-banked saliva samples, examining whether MAP improved salivary amyloid beta-42 (Aβ-42) levels in community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with MCI. We also explored the moderating role of education level, an indicator of cognitive reserve, on intervention effect. MethodsA total of 55 community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with MCI were randomized into either the treatment arm, MAP, or the active control arm, the health education program (HEP). Interventions were performed for a total of nine months. Field and laboratory investigators who were blinded to the treatment allocations collected saliva samples at baseline, 3-month, and 9-month follow-ups. Salivary Aβ-42 levels were quantified using a commercial assay. Linear-mixed models were used to examine the effect of MAP on salivary Aβ-42 levels. ResultsCompared to the HEP arm, MAP participants had no significantly modified Aβ-42 levels throughout the 9-month intervention period, regardless of subgroup analyses stratified by either sex or MCI-subtypes (amnestic and non-amnestic). Exploring the moderating effect of education, participants in the HEP arm with higher education levels had significantly lower salivary Aβ-42 at 3-month time-point. DiscussionTaken together with our previous findings and other mindfulness interventional studies failing to find a significant effect on peripheral Aβ-42, we conclude the non-significant effects of mindfulness intervention on ameliorating peripheral Aβ-42 levels. Conversely, participants in the HEP arm with higher cognitive reserve had significantly improved salivary Aβ-42, highlighting the role of cognitive reserve in moderating treatment response in MCI.

The Emergency Resiliency: A Pilot Mindfulness Intervention Program.

The Emergency Resiliency: A Pilot Mindfulness Intervention Program.

Exploring the Effects of Interpreters’ Experiences of Mindfulness Interventions on Their Connection With Nature and Subsequent Environmental Interpretation

This qualitative study used a constructivist grounded theory framework to examine the experiences of environmental interpreters engaged in mindfulness training and their descriptions of mindfulness, nature connection, and interpretive practice. Although there is a prevalent literature base exploring mindfulness and nature connection, a gap in the literature exists pertaining to mindfulness and environmental interpretation training and practice. Nine environmental interpreters participated in a 4-week mindfulness intervention program and engaged in in-depth conversations regarding their experience with mindfulness and interpretation. Constructivist grounded theory coding and analysis indicated that participants in the study experienced the construct of mindfulness in a variety of ways and perceived its impact on their interpretive practice in the following ways specifically: (a) it enhanced personal experiences of nature, and (b) it created more authentic interpretive experiences for their program attendees. This research suggests the value of incorporating mindfulness training in interpreter development programs and the practice of interpretation.

"Mindful parenting: a pilot study of the “Brief Mindfulness Intervention Program” (BMIP) in the educational context"

"Mindful parenting: a pilot study of the “Brief Mindfulness Intervention Program” (BMIP) in the educational context"

Yogic Breathing and Mindfulness as Stress Coping Mediate Positive Health Outcomes of Yoga

ObjectivesDespite accumulating research on yoga and its positive impact on both physiological and psychological health, it is still unclear how yoga improves health. Two central components of yoga, yogic breathing and mindfulness, may be important mechanisms by which individuals learn to cope with their daily stressors, and thereby reduce their risk of developing stress-related illness. In this study, we experimentally tested whether yogic breathing as a stress coping mechanism and increased mindfulness mediates the psychological health benefits of a yoga interventionMethodsSeventy-one middle-aged adults (78% women; Mage 53.5 ± 6.9) who self-rated as moderately stressed were randomly assigned to either a control group or a 5-week yoga intervention called the Yoga and Mindfulness Intervention (YOMI) program. The YOMI combines 60 min of yin yoga practice with 30 min of psychoeducation, administered twice weekly; participants also completed a 5-min breathing exercise as homework daily.ResultsThe YOMI group showed greater reductions in anxiety, depression, and sleep problems compared with controls (R2 varied between .09 to .23), and these reductions were statistically mediated by increased use of yogic breathing and a related increase in participants’ overall mindfulness.ConclusionsThese mediation results provide new insights into how yoga improves psychological health and suggests promising implications for policymakers aimed at improving public health.

The Emergency Resiliency Initiative: A Pilot Mindfulness Intervention Program.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility of a pilot mindfulness intervention program, the Emergency Resiliency Initiative (ERI), as well as to investigate changes in burnout scores and key drivers to burnout among registered nurses (RNs) and patient care technicians (PCTs) in a Level 1 trauma center emergency department (ED). Design: A mixed methods pre/post study with data collection points before and after the 3-month intervention. Method: Three mindfulness educational/experiential sessions were delivered once a month at staff meetings with topic themes of Introduction to Mindfulness, Practical Applications of Mindfulness, and Cultivating Compassion. Participants were asked to complete a minimum of two weekly 5-minute meditations. Burnout scores were assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory at preintervention (baseline) and postintervention. Findings: From the pre- (n = 35) to post- (n = 26) intervention period there was a significant increase in personal accomplishment scores (p = .01) and decrease in emotional exhaustion scores (p = .03) for RNs and PCTs combined. Qualitative interviews revealed five burnout-related themes: (a) prioritization distress, (b) change fatigue, (c) self-protection through superficiality, (d) intentional response, and (e) community amid chaos. Conclusion: The ERI was a feasible and acceptable program associated with improvements in burnout scores. Qualitative interviews revealed the positive impacts of mindfulness on ED clinician resiliency and identified future opportunities to address burnout from a holistic perspective.