Mindfulness Training Research Articles

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Adolescent-Oriented Mindfulness Training and Positive Psychological Interventions on Self-Esteem and Sleep Problems of Female Adolescents

Aim: The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of adolescent-oriented mindfulness training and positive psychological interventions on self-esteem and sleep problems of adolescent girls in city of Abadeh. Methods: The present research method was a post-event descriptive quasi-experimental study with control group. The statistical population of this research was all female teenagers studying in city of Abadeh, 45 of whom were selected through purposeful sampling and randomly assigned to three groups (adolescent-centered mindfulness training, positive psychological interventions, and control groups). The measurement tool was Cooper Smith's Self-Esteem Questionnaire and Pittsburgh's Sleep Quality Questionnaire. Findings: The findings showed that the relationship between pre-test and post-test in self-esteem scores and sleep problems is significant (p<0.05). Other results also showed that the main effect of the group is significant, which indicates that the main variables of the research, namely, self-esteem and sleep problems in the post-test stage, are significantly different in the two experimental and control groups (P=0.001). Conclusion: The results of multivariate and univariate covariance analysis showed that adolescent-oriented mindfulness training and positive psychological interventions increase self-esteem and reduce sleep problems in adolescent girls. Also, mindfulness intervention had a greater effect on increasing self-esteem and reducing sleep problems in adolescent girls than positive psychotherapy intervention.

Addressing Stress Among Healthcare Workers Using Mindfulness-Based Interventions

Stress is rampant among healthcare workers in different patient care settings. Healthcare workers are one of the groups that report high workplace stress levels with some studies reporting these levels to be as high as 70 to 90%. Stress was particularly rampant among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic because most workers were overwhelmed and could not provide the best care for their patients. Stress among healthcare workers is likely to continue because the work conditions that contribute to this high level of stress are becoming more rampant. For instance, demanding work, long and unpredictable work hours, and high administrative burdens continue to be rampant. Other factors such as an increase in the number of people affected by multiple chronic conditions and the aging workers are also putting a lot of strain on healthcare and among healthcare workers. Considering the staff shortages, taking care of people with numerous needs can increase stress levels which explains why healthcare workers report high levels of stress. Considering the negative effects of stress on healthcare workers' health and well-being, it is important to have effective interventions in place to deal with this stress such as mindfulness training. Research has shown that mindfulness-based interventions have a lot of potential when it comes to addressing work-related stress. It also helps to deal with depression and anxiety. To increase effectiveness, mindfulness training can also be incorporated as part of wellness programs in the workplace. keywords: mindfulness training, mindfulness-based interventions, stress, burnout, healthcare workers

Examining the impact of self-stigma on workplace well-being: an empirical investigation of medical students with physical disabilities in China and the moderating role of trait mindfulness

BackgroundAs societal evolution unfolds in China, individuals with physical disabilities are increasingly provided opportunities in higher education, particularly in the field of medicine. However, these medical students often encounter bias in their work environments, including during internships, which fosters self-stigma and impedes their experience for workplace well-being (WWB). Such a decrease in WWB detrimentally affects not only their mental health in the workplace but also hinders their sense of personal worth and assimilation into broader society. This study aims to examine the challenges faced by medical students with physical disabilities in China as they aspire to achieve WWB, and to explore potential intervention strategies.MethodsLeveraging cognitive consistency theory (CCT), we introduces a conceptual framework to examine the relationships among self-stigma, perceived discrimination, and WWB. It also investigates the role of trait mindfulness as a potential mitigating factor in this dynamic. We employed the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMIS), Discrimination Perception Questionnaire (DPQ), Workplace Well-being Subscale (WWBS), and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) to survey 316 medical students with physical disabilities. Statistical analyses, including correlation, regression, and moderated mediation effect assessments, were conducted using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 24.0.ResultsA notable negative correlation exists between self-stigma and WWB (r = -0.56, p < 0.01). Perceived discrimination partially mediates the relationship between self-stigma and WWB. The direct effect of self-stigma and its mediating effect through perceived discrimination account for 60.71% and 21.43% of the total effect, respectively. Trait mindfulness moderates the latter part of this mediating pathway. Moderation models indicate that trait mindfulness has a significant negative moderating effect on the impact of perceived discrimination on WWB (β = -0.10, p < 0.001).ConclusionsSelf-stigma adversely affects the positive work experiences of medical students with physical disabilities by eliciting a heightened sensitivity to discriminatory cues, thereby undermining their WWB. Trait mindfulness can effectively counter the detrimental effects of perceived discrimination on WWB. Consequently, this study advocates for the systematic incorporation of mindfulness training into educational services and workplace enhancement programs for medical students with disabilities, aiming to foster an inclusive and supportive external environment.

Prenatal Mindfulness Training and Interoceptive Awareness in Pregnant People at Risk for Hypertensive Disorders.

Aim: In this secondary analysis of a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT), we sought to examine whether mindfulness training (MT) is associated with change in interoceptive awareness in pregnant people at risk for hypertension using quantitative and qualitative methods. Interoceptive awareness is the perception, regulation, and integration of bodily sensations. Interoceptive awareness increases following MT and has been proposed as a psychosomatic process underlying hypertension outside of pregnancy. Methods: Twenty-nine participants (mean age 32 ± 4 years; 67% White) with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) were enrolled at 16 weeks' gestation (SD = 3) for a RCT assessing the feasibility and acceptability of an 8-week phone-delivered MT intervention. Fifteen participants were randomized to MT, whereas 14 were randomized to usual prenatal care. Before and after the intervention, all participants completed the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) measure and participated an individual interview, which queried for mind-body changes noticed across the study period. Results: Adjusting for baseline interoceptive awareness and gestational age, participants randomized to MT reported less worry about physical sensations on the MAIA after the intervention compared to those randomized to usual care. Qualitative data corroborated these results; MT participants described improved awareness of body and breath sensations, ability to notice blood pressure changes, non-judgmental observation of thoughts, and improved responses to interpersonal challenges. Conclusions: MT may improve the ability to notice body sensations that arise in pregnancy in a way that promotes healthy responding rather than worry. Results provide support for interoceptive awareness as a potential mechanism through which mindfulness may modulate blood pressure and potentially reduce the prevalence of HDP. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03679117).

Effects of Mindfulness and Life-Skills Training on Emotion Regulation and Anxiety Symptoms in Chinese Migrant Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

PurposeChina’s rapid urbanization has been associated with increased mental health challenges, especially in rural-to-urban migrant children. This study evaluates the effects of mindfulness and life-skills (LS) training on emotional regulation and anxiety symptoms from a randomized controlled trial aimed at improving the mental health of Chinese migrant children. MethodsTwo intervention arms—mindfulness training (MT) and MT plus LS mentorship (MT + LS)—were compared to a waitlist control group of 368 migrant children aged 9–17 years. Volunteers were trained to deliver interventions to 285 migrant children in small groups of 15 for eight weeks weekly. Social integration varied: migrant children mixed with local children at public schools were considered highly integrated, those in migrant-only classrooms at public schools had intermediate levels of integration, and children in private migrant schools had low integration. Emotion regulation and anxiety symptoms were assessed preintervention, postintervention, and three months postintervention. ResultsPostintervention and compared to the control group, children with high social integration in the MT arm showed increased cognitive reappraisal ability (p < .05) but higher physical anxiety (p < .01). Children with high social integration in the MT + LS arm had lower anxiety symptoms of harm avoidance (p < .01) and physical anxiety (p < .05). Children with low social integration in the MT + LS arm showed lower cognitive reappraisal (p < .01) and poorer overall emotion regulation abilities (p < .01). Three months later, children with intermediate integration in the MT + LS arm had lower separation anxiety (p < .05) and harm avoidance anxiety (p < .05). No other groups showed significant improvements in emotion regulation or reducing in anxiety symptoms three months postintervention. DiscussionMindfulness and LS training may benefit Chinese migrant children who have higher levels of social integration but increase anxiety in those with lower social integration. Future research should consider the sociocultural context in which a treatment is implemented.

Impact of Mindfulness through Smartphone Applications on the Anxiety among B.Sc. Nursing Students.

Smartphone addiction among undergraduate students has become a pressing concern due to its association with perceived stress levels and negative impacts on their well-being and academic performance. Quasi-experimental design with nonequivalent control group samples was 100 students. Mindfulness training by using the smartphone application in four meetings for four weeks, whereas the control group was given mindfulness training after the study in the eight weeks. Anxiety is measured by the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale instrument. Data were analyzed by using Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests. The study found that anxiety levels decreased after mindfulness training while in the control group, anxiety increased at posttest, indicating a significant difference. Mindfulness training through smartphone devices SIMBA application has a significant effect on reducing anxiety levels in third-year nursing students. These findings demonstrate the necessity of educating students about the detrimental consequences of smartphone addiction on mental health, especially perceived stress and promoting the adoption of coping mechanisms.

Mindfulness Enhancing Concentration in English Foreign Language Reading Comprehension

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Learning Compass 2030 for teachers emphasizes that cognitive, metacognitive skills, and emotional intelligence skills such as compassion, attentiveness, critical thinking, creativity, and communication are indirectly important to developing reading comprehension. Reading is a challenge for EFL students who have difficulties understanding written texts because of the lack of concentration, stress, and anxiety. Mindfulness appears as a practice that may offer some benefits. Recent studies show that mindfulness training can alleviate anxiety and stress, improve confidence, improve cognitive and social abilities, and elevate academic goals. In this regard, this review synthesizes existing literature to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness in enhancing concentration in EFL reading comprehension classrooms and provide insights for educators, practitioners, and researchers. Criteria for selected articles were kept as recent as possible. All peer-reviewed papers were cited or published in scientific journals. This review suggests that mindfulness training has the potential to make learners more aware of their learning system. In addition, students learn to regulate their emotions to be more flexible and creative. Mindfulness training changes their point of view of their thinking in a way that encourages conscious control of their feeling, actions, and thoughts, improving cognitive abilities.

The Spanish Version of the Sussex-Oxford Compassion for Others Scale (SOCS–O) in Nursing Students: Psychometric Properties and Its Relation with Mindfulness

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Sussex-Oxford Compassion for Others Scale (SOCS–O) in a large sample of Spanish undergraduate nursing students.MethodAfter a forward–backward translation process, we conducted a cross-sectional study among nursing students in their first year of training at two Spanish universities. The mean age of the participants (n = 683) was 22.74 years old, and 83.46% were women. Together with compassion for others, mindfulness was also assessed.ResultsDescriptive results revealed high scores across all dimensions of the SOCS–O. The data supported a 3-factor structure with correlated factors (χ2(167) = 363.47, p < 0.01; CFI = 0.96; TLI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.05, 90% CI = 0.04, 0.05; SRMR = 0.04). Reliability estimates, measured by Cronbach’s alpha, were excellent, ranging from 0.87 to 0.93. Measurement invariance across gender was confirmed. Men exhibited significantly lower levels in all compassion dimensions: Recognizing suffering (mean difference = − 0.40), Understanding the universality of suffering (mean difference = − 0.33), and Behavioral compassion (mean difference = − 0.57) (all p < 0.01). The structural equation model showed a clear relationship between mindfulness and compassion (χ2(581) = 1345.79, p < 0.01; CFI = 0.92; TLI = 0.92; RMSEA = 0.04, 90% CI = 0.04, 0.04; SRMR = 0.06).ConclusionsThe findings showed that the Spanish version of the SOCS–O has robust psychometric properties. The SOCS–O is a reliable tool for measuring compassion with three subscales and helps advance understanding of compassion among student nurses. The positive relationship between mindfulness and compassion suggests that incorporating mindfulness training into nursing curricula could enhance the delivery of compassionate care.PreregistrationThis study was not preregistered.

Augmenting Virtual Mindfulness Group With a Mindfulness App in Integrated Primary Care: Development, Feasibility, and Acceptability

As the body of support for the usefulness of mindfulness-based practices within therapeutic intervention has grown, so has demand. To increase access to this evidence-based care, skill-building groups as well as mobile apps that deliver mindfulness training have been developed. However, evaluations of app-augmented group mindfulness interventions are lacking. This pilot study developed and implemented a protocol augmenting a virtual Veterans Affairs–Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA-CALM) group with the Mindfulness Coach app in a Mid-Atlantic VA health system. The 6-week app-augmented group was implemented across four cycles (n = 18) within the system’s Integrated Primary Care setting. Qualitative feedback was collected and used to improve the integrative protocol iteratively across group cycles. Feedback indicated participants found the app supported skill growth and that the group context enhanced app engagement, while others found it difficult to navigate the app and build new habits. Quantitative outcomes indicated improvements in stress, health-related quality of life, and the mindfulness skill of nonreactivity. App usage among group members ranged from none to frequent. Groups in combination with apps may be a feasible and acceptable way to support mindfulness skill growth and application to daily life for some veterans. Further study should focus on patient-level factors that are relevant to engagement and efficacy of app-augmented protocols, as well as whether engagement predicts clinical improvement.

Loss of work-life balance, experience of stress and anxiety among professionals working from home - An exploratory study in a western Indian city

Introduction: Work from Home, (WFH) gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the emphasized positives of flexibility, productivity, efficiency, and saving on commute time. However, over a period of time, experiences of stress, anxiety, and depression started to daunt the WFH employees. A study of the impact of WFH on the work performance, mental health (stress and anxiety), and lifestyle of Indian employees is necessary for the generation of evidence that would contribute to WFH policy building. Methods: The study was done online during the COVID-19 pandemic in the months of April-June 2021. A link to the Google form was posted on the author’s social media platforms, Facebook and LinkedIn. The survey researched individual work performance, perceived stress, and anxiety, lifestyle practices, and experiences of WFH. Results: Participants scored high on the dimensions of task performance and contextual performance. (65.3%) were under moderate stress, and (8.9%) were under high stress, and more than fifty percent (55.4%) were experiencing high-state anxiety. The effect of work distraction on perceived stress and state anxiety was found to be significant (p = 0.004). Also, a significant association was observed between feelings of isolation and high-state anxiety (p = 0.005) and between anxiety and stress (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Teaching and training mindfulness to WFH employees would help in coping with the stress and anxiety attached to WFH. Industries have the opportunity to conceptualize innovative and context-specific strategies to support WFH arrangements and employees’ well-being.

A Study on The Relationship Between Digital Competencies, Mindfulness, Social Media Usage and Work Performance in Automobile Industry of Pakistan

This study aims to investigate the relationship between mindfulness, digital competencies, social media usage, and work performance in Pakistan's automobile sector. The research explores the roles of trust, mindfulness, shared vision, digital competency, knowledge transfer, and network ties within this industry. The automobile industry demands high levels of employee performance, and social media networks are increasingly used for communication and interaction. This research hypothesizes that social media usage fosters trust among employees, leading to better interaction and knowledge transfer. Additionally, mindfulness training is proposed to enhance work performance and reduce employee turnover. A quantitative approach with a conceptual framework will be used to test these hypotheses. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of how these factors influence work performance in the Pakistani automobile industry.

Brand Identity and Brand Image Congruence to improve branding Practices: A Multi-Case Study on Startups

This study investigates the relationship between mindfulness, digital competencies, social media usage, and work performance in Pakistan’s automobile sector. The research explores the roles of trust, mindfulness, shared vision, digital competency, knowledge transfer, and network ties within this industry. The automobile industry demands high levels of employee performance, and social media networks are increasingly used for communication and interaction. This research hypothesizes that social media usage fosters employee trust, leading to better interaction and knowledge transfer. Additionally, mindfulness training is proposed to enhance work performance and reduce employee turnover. A quantitative approach with a conceptual framework will test these hypotheses. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of how these factors influence work performance in the Pakistani automobile industry.

Distinct Mindfulness States Produce Dissociable Effects on Neural Markers of Emotion Processing: Evidence From the Late Positive Potential

BackgroundMindfulness has long been theorized to benefit emotion regulation, but despite the ubiquity of the claim, there is little empirical evidence demonstrating how mindfulness modulates the neurophysiology of emotion processing. The current study aimed to fill this gap in knowledge by leveraging a novel research approach capable of discretizing mindfulness into distinct states of open monitoring (OM) and focused attention (FA) to distinguish their influence on multimodal subjective and objective measures of emotion processing. MethodsUtilizing a fully within-participant picture viewing state induction protocol (N = 30), we compared the effects of OM and FA, rigorously contrasted against an active control, on the visually evoked late positive potential (LPP), a neural index of motivated attention. Bayesian mixed modeling was used to distinguish OM versus FA effects on the early and late sustained LPP while evaluating the influence of subjective arousal ratings as a within-participant moderator of the state inductions. ResultsWhen negative picture trials were retrospectively rated as more subjectively arousing, the OM induction reduced the late sustained LPP response, whereas the FA induction enhanced the LPP. ConclusionsAcute manipulation of OM and FA states may reduce and enhance motivated attention to aversive stimuli during conditions of high subjective arousal, respectively. Functional distinctions between different mindfulness states on emotion processing may be most dissociable after accounting for within-participant variability in how stimuli are appraised. These results support the future potential of the state induction protocol for parsing the neural affective mechanisms that underlie mindfulness training programs and interventions.

Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention Program to Improve Communication and Stress Coping Skills in University Students.

Investigating the contribution of mindfulness training to psychological well-being and quality of life in the university setting is of interest. The objective of the study is to present a comparative analysis of the scores in the variables of self-efficacy, resilience, coping strategies, and communication skills before and after the application of an intervention program based on mindfulness. An ex post facto cross-sectional design and a convenience sample of participants were adopted. The participants were students belonging to Education Sciences who benefited from the activities of the program. Instruments were administered to assess mindfulness, self-efficacy, resilience, coping strategies, and communication skills. The correlations of the mindfulness variable with the other psychoeducational variables evaluated were also analyzed. The results indicate an increase in the scores in the selected variables of mindfulness, resilience, communication skills, and some of the coping strategies considered productive or functional such as problem solving, self-criticism, emotional expression, desiderative thinking, social support, and cognitive restructuring. Statistically significant correlations were also observed between the variable mindfulness and those of perceived self-efficacy, resilience, coping strategies, and communication skills. The development of mindfulness training programs in the university setting is necessary to contribute to the improvement of more adaptive coping skills and the promotion of resilience.

The Current State of Research on Driving Anger

Driving anger is a significant factor in causing traffic accidents and poses a severe threat to road safety. This paper reviews the research progress on driving anger over the past decade, including its definition, research methodologies, influencing factors, and intervention measures. The literature indicates that (1) questionnaires, driving simulators, video recordings, and behavioral diaries are commonly used research methods. (2) The factors influencing driving anger include demographic elements (such as age, gender, alcohol consumption), personality traits (such as anger trait, sensation seeking), and environmental factors (such as road characteristics, life events). (3) To address driving anger, researchers have proposed various intervention measures, including relaxation training, group cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness training, and driver re-education programs. These interventions have been somewhat effective in reducing driving anger and aggressive driving behaviors. Future research could further explore the cognitive processes of driving anger and its impact on driving behavior to develop more effective intervention strategies, thereby enhancing road traffic safety.

Pelatihan Mindfulness Pada Remaja Karang Taruna Di Rt.08 Rw.19 Sendangmulyo – Semarang

The aim of this community service is to provide training on Mindfulness to Youth at Karang Taruna RT.08 RW.19 to increase their understanding of themselves regarding their physical and psychological aspects and be able to make conscious decisions and focus on the activities they are carrying out. Mindfulness training is a meditation method used to increase empathy both affectively, cognitively, morally, intrapersonally and interpersonally. The millennial generation (Gen Z) receives a lot of positive and negative information on the internet. Most Gen Z often use the internet and choose not to interact with their friends because they are comfortable with the gadgets they own. Initial interviews obtained from RT.08 mothers and several teenagers showed that the rise in suicide cases on social media reflects the lack of resilience in Gen Z. RT.08 mothers then asked the PkM team of the Psychology faculty to hold training that The aim is to protect Gen Z's mentality from the pressures that arise in today's millennial life journey. The lack of self-understanding and skills possessed by Gen Z makes RT.08 mothers feel worried about the mentality that Gen Z will have in the future. This input made the PkM team want to help find solutions regarding the self-development of youth at the RT.08 Rw.19 Youth Organization through Mindfulness Training. The process was gathered by teenagers at the RT.08 hall and provided material for understanding and practicing Mindfulness in the form of lectures, practices and games and group discussions. The results of the service show that there is an increase in understanding of 51% in youth at Karang Taruna, meaning that increasing understanding of Mindfulness can improve the ability of youth at Karang Taruna to better understand themselves and the surrounding environment so that they can overcome all challenges and obstacles that occur in the process. journey of daily life.

Mindfulness Training in Swiss Elementary Schools: Effectiveness and Role of Implementation Quality in a Cluster-Randomized Trial

Mindfulness Training in Swiss Elementary Schools: Effectiveness and Role of Implementation Quality in a Cluster-Randomized Trial

Is decreasing problematic mobile phone use a pathway for alleviating adolescent depression and sleep disorders? A randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of an eight-session mindfulness-based intervention.

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) intervention in reducing problematic mobile phone use, depression, and sleep disorders among adolescents. Additionally, it sought to investigate whether the decrease in problematic mobile phone use acted as a mediator in the relationship between the MBCT intervention and adolescent depression and sleep disorders. In a randomized controlled trial, a total of 104 adolescents were randomly assigned to the mindfulness group (n = 52) or the wait-list control group (n = 52). The mindfulness group students completed eight 45-min sessions of mindfulness training in four weeks. The outcomes were measured at baseline, postintervention, and at the 2-month follow-up. Compared with the control group, the mindfulness group had significantly greater levels of mindfulness and lower levels of problematic mobile phone use, depression, and sleep disorders postintervention. The intervention effects were maintained at the 2-month follow-up. In addition, decreased problematic mobile phone use significantly mediated the association between the MBCT intervention and decreased depression and decreased sleep disorders. The findings suggest that MBCT could improve adolescent depression and sleep disorders and that decreasing problematic mobile phone use is an effective pathway accounting for the MBCT intervention effect on adolescent depression and sleep disorders.

Improving patient-centered mental health promotion in primary care in vulnerable communities through mindfulness training in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Brazilian Primary Health Care (PHC) is responsible for all-sanitary actions for a community-based population, including health promotion and mental health care. Mindfulness Based Health Promotion (MBHP) is an intervention that can promote self-care and psychosocial support in PHC. To discuss the effects of mindfulness based psychosocial group interventions for health promotion in primary care units in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The intervention was based on the MBHP model adapted for SUS. Nine groups were held in Rio de Janeiro. A quali-quanti research was held with two parts: (a) quantitative study, pre and after the 8 weeks intervention, evaluating the effect on mindfulness and self-compassion and their association with levels of anxiety, depression, and quality of life. (b) Qualitative research using Focus Groups with the participants to investigate their experience at the end of the mindfulness groups. Sixty-two participants finished the 9 groups where 86% were women, mostly between 30 and 59 years of age and low income, and around 80% under regular medical care in PHC in SUS. In the studied sample 80% had at least one chronic health condition under treatment, including 42% with anxiety and 35% with depression. The effects included significant improvement in Anxiety and Depression and in Quality of Life, mainly in the psychological but also in the physical and interrelation domains. The qualitative study showed that most patients joined the group on the recommendation of health professionals for managing physical and mental health symptoms. Patients reported being able to use the practices taught in the sessions to manage symptoms such as insomnia and emotionally distressing situations in their daily lives. Including family members in mindfulness practices was a strategy to negotiate not only a space at home to meditate, but also to obtain a different approach to health problems. Participants pointed to mindfulness as a complementary therapeutic option to medication and psychotherapy. Mindfulness-Based Intervention have shown to be a feasible, well-accepted and efficacious method of offering psychosocial support and promoting well-being for low-income patients in primary care in LAMIC.

Taking the edge off: a feasibility randomized controlled trial of an online mindfulness-based intervention to reduce suspiciousness/paranoia in high positive schizotypy.

Positive schizotypy can uniquely predict the development of psychosis with suspiciousness/paranoia having emerged as a key risk factor, pointing to significant worth in reducing this aspect in individuals with high positive schizotypy. Reduced paranoia in the general population following brief online mindfulness training has been previously reported. This study investigated the feasibility of a 40-day online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) (n = 12) in the individuals with high positive schizotypy characterized by high suspiciousness/paranoia and to estimate its effect on paranoia as compared with an active control condition using reflective journaling (n = 12). The outcome measures were self-reported trait and VR-induced state paranoia, completed at baseline, after 10 days and post-intervention. The feasibility criteria included retention, adherence, engagement, and acceptability. There was 100% retention, excellent adherence to content and engagement, with an average MBI session completion rate of 91%. Acceptability, indexed by a self-rated motivation to continue practice post-intervention, was also high. No MBI effect on trait paranoia was observed; however, the MBI group showed a reduction in the VR-induced state paranoia with a medium-to-large effect (d = 0.63). The findings support conducting larger-scale randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effects of online MBIs on reducing suspiciousness/paranoia to mitigate psychosis risk in individuals with high positive schizotypy. Clinical Trial Registration:https://www.isrctn.com/, identifier ISRCTN78697391.