Skip to content

Distress tolerance as a mediator of mindfulness-based intervention for anxiety and depression: Evidence from two randomized controlled trials.

Yanjuan Li, Mengyao He, Zhenzhen Wang, Stefan G Hofmann, Xinghua Liu

International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2024.100445 (opens in new tab)

Read Full Text
Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 544
Population Adults with at least moderate emotional distress (Study 1) or emotional disorders (Study 2)
Intervention Mindfulness-based intervention
Duration 8-week intervention (implied by weekly assessments and post-test)
Topics Anxiety Depression Meditation
Keywords Distress tolerance Mechanism Mindfulness-based intervention
Citations 18
Key findings Distress tolerance mediated the effects of mindfulness-based intervention on changes in anxiety and depression in two randomized controlled trials.

Abstract

We aimed to investigate whether distress tolerance mediated the effects of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on anxiety and depression with two randomized controlled studies. In Study 1, 374 participants with at least moderate emotional distress were randomized to an intervention group (N = 174) and a waitlist control group (N = 173). Mindfulness, distress tolerance, anxiety, and depression were measured at the pre-test, week 3, week 5, and post-test. In Study 2, 170 participants with emotional disorders were randomized to an intervention group (N = 86) and a control group (N = 84). The same variables were assessed at pre-test, weekly during the intervention, and post-test. In both studies, linear mixed effect models showed that compared to the control group, mindfulness, distress tolerance, anxiety, and depression significantly improved in the intervention group. Parallel process latent growth curve models showed that changes in distress tolerance mediated the effects of the MBI on changes in anxiety and depression. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models found that distress tolerance temporally preceded depression, but not anxiety. Distress tolerance is a potential mechanism underlying MBIs. Interventions targeting distress tolerance could be embedded in MBIs to enhance the intervention effects for emotional distress.

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2000 Randomized controlled trial n = 145
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety 2016 Randomized controlled trial n = 51
Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression 2016 Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial n = 29
Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Hallucinogen-naïve adults reporting regular participation in religious or spiritual... 2006 Double-blind study n = 36
Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Adults with advanced-stage cancer and anxiety 2010 Double-blind, placebo-controlled study n = 12

Citations in the library

Cited by 7

and 2 more in the library

Cites 6

and 1 more in the library

Related reading

Explore topics

Anxiety Depression Meditation