Preliminary examination of the validity of a behavioral mindfulness measure in adults with advanced cancer and their family caregivers.
Megan F Noonan, Catherine E Mosher, Ekin Secinti, Ashley B Lewson, Shelley A Johns
Palliative & Supportive Care July 6, 2026 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951526103083 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 110 |
| Population | Adults with advanced cancer and their family caregivers |
| Intervention | Mindfulness intervention |
| Duration | 6-week intervention, 1-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Advanced cancer Breath counting task Family caregivers Measurement |
| Key findings | The BCT demonstrated sensitivity to a mindfulness intervention among caregivers and criterion validity among patients, but patterns varied across groups. |
Abstract
The breath counting task (BCT) has shown evidence of validity as a behavioral measure of mindfulness in healthy populations but remains largely untested in clinical contexts. The BCT is a computerized measure of present-moment awareness based on breath-counting accuracy. This study provides a preliminary evaluation of its validity in adults with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. Fifty-five patient-caregiver dyads were randomized to a 6-week mindfulness intervention or usual care. Participants completed the BCT and self-report surveys at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. The BCT's construct validity was examined through: (1) sensitivity to mindfulness intervention using linear mixed models, (2) convergent validity via correlations with self-reported mindfulness and theoretically related constructs (e.g., inner peace), and (3) criterion validity via correlations with clinical outcomes (e.g., quality of life). Findings differed for patients and caregivers. Among caregivers, the BCT demonstrated sensitivity to intervention; breath-counting accuracy on the BCT increased over time in the mindfulness condition and remained stable in the usual care condition. Among patients in the mindfulness condition, greater breath-counting accuracy was moderately associated with better quality of life at follow-ups, including a significant correlation at 1 month (r = .57, p < .05), supporting its criterion validity. Evidence of convergent validity was limited. However, for patients and caregivers, greater breath-counting accuracy was moderately associated with higher self-reported mindfulness facets following intervention. Preliminary findings suggest the BCT may capture certain attentional aspects of mindfulness in patients with advanced cancer and caregivers; however, patterns varied across groups, highlighting the need for further evaluation of its validity in clinical contexts.
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
- Conceptual and methodological issues in research on mindfulness and meditation. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Defining mindfulness by how poorly I think I pay attention during everyday awareness and other intractable problems for psychology's (re)invention of mindfulness: Comment on Brown et al. (2011). Psychological Assessment 2011
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials Perspectives on Psychological Science February 16, 2021
- Meta-analytic evidence for effects of mindfulness training on dimensions of self-reported dispositional mindfulness. Psychological Assessment 2016
and 14 more in the library