Prompting to Practice: Daily Practice Mediates the Benefits of Supplement to a Mindfulness-Based Intervention.
Rachel G. Lucas‐Thompson, Megan J Moran, Jill T. Krause, Addie Rzonca, Brock A Rigsby, Olivia Grossklaus, Jonathan I Najman, Mark A. Prince
Psychological Reports July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/00332941261464056 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 59 |
| Population | University students who attended at least one session of a 6-week mindfulness-based intervention |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) |
| Duration | 6-week MBI |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mental health Home practice Mindfulness-based intervention Just-in-time |
| Key findings | Participants who received a multi-modal adaptive supplement delivered via cellphone alongside a 6-week MBI reported significantly higher rates of home practice than those who received the MBI alone. Home practice showed indirect effects of condition on mindful attention, psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and emotion regulation difficulties, which the authors describe as preliminary evidence that supplements may enhance MBI effectiveness. |
Abstract
Theoretically, home practice of mindfulness is a critical mechanism underlying the benefits of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), but rates of adherence to home practice recommendations are low for youth participants in MBI. In the current study, we test the extent to which the first supplement delivered via cellphone to an MBI increases rates of home practice, and to what extent home practice mediates condition differences in key outcomes (mindful attention, psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and difficulties in emotion regulation). Participants were 59 university students who attended at least one session of a 6-week MBI and completed daily diaries assessing home practice and outcomes. Participants were randomly assigned to receive varying intervention support between sessions; we compared those who received no support to those who received support. Results indicated that those who received the MBI plus multi-modal adaptive supplement in daily life reported significantly higher rates of home practice, relative to those who received only the MBI. In addition, there were indirect effects of condition on mindful attention, psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and emotion regulation difficulties through home practice. This study provides preliminary evidence that incorporating supplements to MBI may increase intervention effectiveness by supporting and boosting home practice of mindfulness.
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 19
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- An Exploration of Formal and Informal Mindfulness Practice and Associations with Wellbeing Mindfulness May 21, 2018
- Does practice quality mediate the relationship between practice time and outcome in mindfulness-based stress reduction? Journal of Counseling Psychology July 25, 2019
- Are Formal and Informal Home Mindfulness Practice Quantities Associated With Outcomes? Results From a Pilot Study of a Four-Week Mindfulness Intervention for Chronic Pain Management. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health 2024
- Understanding how adolescents engage in mindfulness-based intervention: a mixed methods study of engagement processes Current Psychology May 1, 2026
and 14 more in the library