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)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| 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 |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Attention network Dispositional mindfulness Mindfulness meditation |
| Key findings | 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.
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
Cited by 5
- Enhancing shooting performance and cognitive engagement in virtual reality environments through brief meditation training. Scientific Reports May 10, 2025
- The Effect of Brief Mindfulness Meditation on Attention Networks in University Students with Problematic Short-Video Use Behavioral Sciences August 25, 2026
- Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Physical and Psychological Well-Being of Young Adults. Health Education & Behavior February 1, 2026
- Guided mindfulness meditation as a priming strategy for reducing anxiety and facilitating motor skill learning. Frontiers in Psychology 2026
- From mind to marksmanship: Harnessing brief mindfulness meditation to enhance attention control and performance in novice athletes Journal of Applied Sport Psychology May 12, 2025
Cites 21
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- Intensive meditation training improves perceptual discrimination and sustained attention. Psychological Science June 1, 2010
and 16 more in the library