In non-clinical groups, unusual sensory experiences like those in Tulpamancy and ASMR communities are not linked to stronger metacognitive beliefs, but having multiple such experiences is associated with higher hallucination-proneness. Tulpamancers who also experience ASMR scored higher on hallucination-proneness than controls, while Tulpamancers reported lower endorsement of metacognitive beliefs. No differences emerged in delusion-proneness, self-reflection, or self-schemas across groups. Metacognition influences unusual experiences in non-clinical populations, and the relationship varies by group. Improving metacognition in clinical populations may help reduce distress tied to unusual sensory experiences.
Mindfulness-based programs improve mental health and mindfulness in young adults aged 18–30. A meta-analysis of 132 randomized controlled trials with 6,883 participants in intervention groups and 6,910 controls found significant improvements in anxiety, depression, stress, distress, positive affect, negative affect, and mindfulness facets, with effect sizes greater than 0.29. The most reliable improvements were in monitoring-focused mindfulness facets. Certainty of evidence ranged from moderate to low due to risk of bias and likely publication bias. Multimodal programs, MBCT, MBSR, and their derivations were effective. Intervention and study characteristics explained 6–15% of heterogeneity.