Effects of brief mindfulness meditation training on attention and dispositional mindfulness in young adult males.
Shi-Yang Zhong, Jia-Hui Guo, Xiao-Na Zhou, Jun-Lan Liu, Chun-Lei Jiang
Acta Psychologica June 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104277 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA 4-week brief mindfulness meditation training program improved dispositional mindfulness and some attention functions in young men aged 18 to 26 from the security industry, but did not affect alertness or orientation networks or reduce cortisol levels. The training enhanced scores on the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire and showed marginally significant improvements in the executive control network, as well as better attention allocation to light stimulation and prolonged individual attention. No effect was found on alertness or orientation networks, and cortisol concentration did not decrease.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 126 |
| Population | Young males aged 18-26 from the security industry |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Duration | 4-week intervention |
| Keywords | Attention network Dispositional mindfulness Mindfulness meditation |
| Key finding | Brief mindfulness meditation training improved dispositional mindfulness and some attention functions but did not affect alertness, orientation networks, or cortisol levels. |
Abstract
This study examined the impact of brief mindfulness meditation (BMM) training on attention function and dispositional mindfulness in young males. 126 male participants aged 18-26 from the security industry were recruited, with 66 participants (M = 22.84, SD = 2.41) undergoing 4-week mindfulness meditation training and 60 participants (M = 23.07, SD = 2.29) in the active control group. The intervention was integrated into the participants' schedules. Measures included Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaires (FFMQ), concentration and assignment attention tasks, Attention Network Test (ANT), and saliva cortisol concentration. Findings indicate that brief mindfulness meditation training led to significant improvements in participants' FFMQ scores), with marginally significant enhancements in the executive control network. However, it had no discernible effect on alertness and orientation networks. Additionally, brief mindfulness meditation training enhanced attention allocation to light stimulation and prolonged individual attention. Surprisingly, there was no observed decrease in saliva cortisol concentration among meditation training participants. However, this study did not find a decrease in saliva cortisol concentration in the brief mindfulness meditation group. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of a 4-week brief mindfulness meditation training program to enhance dispositional mindfulness and specific aspects of attention function in young men, offering practical insights into the benefits of mindfulness meditation practices for this demographic.