Longitudinal increases in mindfulness practice quality are associated with changes in psychological outcomes and not vice versa - a brief report.
Sarah Strohmaier, Simon B. Goldberg
Current Psychology May 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-024-05644-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 48 |
| Population | Novice mindfulness practitioners from the general population |
| Intervention | low-dose mindfulness practices |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness practice Practice quality Psychological distress |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key findings | Increases in mindfulness practice quality over time are associated with improvements in psychological outcomes (anxiety, stress, and mindfulness), but not vice versa. |
Abstract
With research on mindfulness increasing exponentially, it is important to clarify factors that may influence the success of this approach. We examined the construct of mindfulness meditation practice quality using longitudinal data drawn from a randomized controlled trial testing low-dose mindfulness practices with novice mindfulness practitioners from the general population (N = 48). Results suggest that increases in mindfulness practice quality over time are associated with improvements in psychological outcomes (anxiety, stress, and mindfulness), but not vice versa. Findings join previous research supporting the notion that mindfulness practice quality is an important element of mindfulness training in higher-dose programs as well as low-dose and self-help mindfulness programs and practices. Therefore, this research contributes to finding further support of the importance of mindfulness practice quality as a cause of improvement in psychological distress. This needs to be explored further in future research.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Neurofeedback Training Facilitates Awareness and Enhances Emotional Well-being Associated with Real-World Meditation Practice: A 7-T MRI Study. Mindfulness September 26, 2025
- A latent profile analysis of the Big Five personality and mindfulness traits in the general population Personality and Individual Differences May 26, 2025
- High-precision neurofeedback-guided meditation training optimises real-world self-guided meditation practice for well-being bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) October 26, 2024
- Development and Validation of the Mindfulness Meditation Practice Quality Scales (MMPQS) in a Clinical Population Using Rasch Analysis Mindfulness September 23, 2026
- Trait mindfulness influences self-reported mental health in individuals with depression Current Psychology June 1, 2026
and 4 more in the library
Cites 9
- The toronto mindfulness scale: Development and validation Journal of Clinical Psychology 2006
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
- Monitoring mindfulness practice quality: An important consideration in mindfulness practice Psychotherapy Research October 9, 2012
- The secret ingredient in mindfulness interventions? A case for practice quality over quantity. Journal of Counseling Psychology 2014
- Does practice quality mediate the relationship between practice time and outcome in mindfulness-based stress reduction? Journal of Counseling Psychology July 25, 2019
and 4 more in the library