A randomized trial on differential changes in thought and affect after mindfulness versus dyadic practice indicates phenomenological fingerprints of app-based interventions

Two daily app-based practices—a 12-minute partner-based socio-emotional exercise (Affect Dyad) and a 12-minute solitary mindfulness practice—were compared over 10 weeks in 212 adults aged 18–65. Both practices increased positive affect and arousal. The mindfulness practice reduced active thoughts, especially those about the future, others, and negative topics. The Dyad, in contrast, increased thoughts about others and positive thoughts, which may help counter ruminative thinking patterns tied to self-focused and negative content. These differential effects could guide the adaptation of scalable app-based mental training for different populations.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Contemplative practice has demonstrated benefits for mental health and well-being. Most previous studies, however, implemented in-person trainings containing a mix of different, mostly solitary, practices and focused on pre- to post-training outcomes. In this randomized trial, we explore the immediate differential efficacy of two daily app-delivered practices in shifting emotional (valence, arousal) and thinking patterns (thought content on future-past, self-other, positive–negative dimensions). For 10 weeks of daily training, 212 participants (18–65 years) performed either a novel 12-min partner-based socio-emotional practice (Affect Dyad) or a 12-min attention-focused solitary mindfulness-based practice. Using ordinal Bayesian multilevel modeling, we found that both practice types led to more positive affect and higher arousal. However, whereas mindfulness-based practice partly led to a decrease in active thoughts, particularly in future-, other-related and negative thoughts, the Dyad in contrast led to increases in other-related, and positive thoughts. This shift towards more social and positive thoughts may specifically support overcoming ruminative thinking patterns associated with self-related and negative thought content. Overall, these differential findings may help inform the adaptation of scalable app-based mental trainings in different segments of the population with the goal to improve mental health and well-being.