Waiting for pain: effect of a mindfulness intervention during a wait situation on pain intensity.
Rebecca Stewing, Thomas Forkmann, Elisabeth Vögtle, Franziska Harms, Antonia Barke
Frontiers in Pain Research 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2025.1653859 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 93 |
| Population | Female students |
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation Worry instruction |
| Duration | Single session |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Acute pain Pain intensity Pressure pain Worry |
| Key findings | A one-time mindfulness intervention increased state mindfulness but did not reduce perceived pain intensity from pressure pain, whereas worrying increased pain intensity. |
Abstract
Research has shown substantial evidence for the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in the management of chronic pain. Less evidence is available whether a one-time mindfulness intervention may also be helpful in alleviating acute procedural pain. While anticipating a potentially painful procedure, people may worry about the upcoming pain. We investigated whether the time spent in a waiting room prior to an appointment could be used for a brief mindfulness intervention. The sample consisted of 93 female students. Experimental pain was induced with a pressure pain algometer. Subjective pain ratings were recorded with a numerical rating scale in a 3 × 2 mixed design with the factors condition (mindfulness, worry, control) and measurement time (baseline, post). A situation corresponding to a waiting room in primary care was created. Participants received an audio recording of a mindfulness meditation, a worry instruction, or an instruction to wait. In addition, participants answered the state version of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (State) at both measurement times. 3 × 2 mixed-design ANOVA showed no main effect for the within-subjects factor "measurement time" F(1, 89) = 0.11, p = .74, no main effect for the between-subjects factor "condition" F(2, 89) = .24; p = .98, and no interaction effect of "measurement time×condition" F(2, 89) = 2.53, p = .09. Analyses showed that worrying led to an increase in perceived pain intensity [t(31) = 1.74, p = .046 (one-tailed), d = 0.31]. No further effects were observed. State mindfulness in the mindfulness condition increased between the measurement times [t(29) = 2.00, p = .03 (one-tailed), d = 0.37]. Mindfulness increased through the induction; it did not affect perceived pain intensity. In the worry condition, perceived pain intensity increased, which is in accordance with research on detrimental effects of worry. Regarding the aim of the study, the experiment showed that a one-shot mindfulness intervention was able to promote state mindfulness, but not decrease perceived pain intensity. Future research should investigate whether mindfulness has more impact on the affective component of the pain, rather than on its sensory component.
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
Cites 12
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Debiasing the Mind Through Meditation Psychological Science December 6, 2013
- Treatment-specific changes in decentering following mindfulness-based cognitive therapy versus antidepressant medication or placebo for prevention of depressive relapse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology March 12, 2012
- Evaluation of the breathworks mindfulness‐based pain management programme: effects on well‐being and multiple measures of mindfulness Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy November 13, 2009
- Placebo effects contribute to brief online mindfulness interventions for chronic pain: results from an online randomized sham-controlled trial. Pain October 1, 2023
and 7 more in the library