Non-attachment as a potential mechanism for the effects of mindfulness meditation on obsessive-compulsive symptoms among survivors of adverse childhood experiences.
Current Psychology October 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-025-08245-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | Young adult survivors of adverse childhood experiences |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Buddhism Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Path analysis Trauma |
| Key findings | Non-attachment directly mediated mindfulness-based intervention effects on obsessive-compulsive symptoms after controlling for depression and anxiety changes. |
Abstract
Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms (OCS) arise from maladaptive appraisal of intrusive thoughts, for which Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) can be a major risk factor, due to distorted senses of responsibility and control. Emerging research suggests Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) can be beneficial for reducing OCS, but existing mechanistic understandings are still based on exposure therapy theories. This pilot study analyzed exploratory measures from a previous mechanistic randomized controlled trial (RCT) with young adult ACE survivors that compared MBI (N=21) vs. active control (N=19). Path analyses revealed that only in the MBI arm, post-intervention score changes (Δ) of "non-attachment" directly influenced ΔOCS (β=-0.50, p<0.05) after controlling for ΔDepression and ΔAnxiety. Such mechanistic finding highlights "non-attachment" as a potential psychological mechanism for MBI's effects on OCS, i.e., through cultivating the mentality of "letting go" of the desire of control over external and internal experiences.
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 7
- 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
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for preventing relapse in recurrent depression: A randomized dismantling trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology December 3, 2013
- Childhood adversity severity modulates the associations between adaptive psychological changes and amygdala volumetric changes in response to behavioral interventions. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports 2024
- Temporal dynamics and long-term effects of a mindfulness-based intervention for young adults with adverse childhood experiences. Mindfulness September 1, 2024
- Mindfulness-based interventions for preventing childhood maltreatment and restoring health among survivors: a public health perspective. Mindfulness June 1, 2025
and 2 more in the library