Effects of Eight-Week-Web-Based Mindfulness Training on Pain Intensity, Pain Acceptance, and Life Satisfaction in Individuals With Chronic Pain
Jessica Henriksson, Emma Wasara, Michael Rönnlund
Psychological Reports December 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1177/0033294116675086 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn eight-week web-based mindfulness program for adults with chronic pain led to increased mindfulness skills, reduced pain intensity and interference, greater pain acceptance, less emotional distress, and higher life satisfaction compared with an online discussion forum. Effect sizes were large for mindfulness (Cohen's d = 1.18) and moderate to large for other outcomes (d = 0.39–0.85). The control group showed minimal changes (d = 0.01–0.23). The study had a less-than-ideal control condition and no long-term follow-up, so results are promising but preliminary.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 107 |
| Population | Adults with chronic pain |
| Intervention | Web-based mindfulness program |
| Dose | 20 minutes per day, six days a week, for eight weeks |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Key finding | An eight-week web-based mindfulness program improved mindfulness, pain, and well-being outcomes in adults with chronic pain compared to an online discussion forum. |
Abstract
This study examined the effects of an eight-week-web-based mindfulness program designed for individuals with chronic pain. A sample of 107 participants with chronic pain ( M = 51.0 years, SD = 9.3) were randomly assigned to a treatment group and a control group. The mindfulness program involved 20 minutes of training per day, six days a week, for eight weeks. During this period, the control group was invited to an online discussion forum involving pain-related topics. A total of 77 participants completed the postintervention assessment ( n = 36 in the treatment group, n = 41 in the control group). The group assigned to mindfulness training showed increased mindfulness skills (Cohen’s d = 1.18), reduced pain intensity ( d = 0.47–0.82), reduced pain-related interference/suffering ( d = 0.39–0.85), heightened pain acceptance ( d = 0.66), reduced affective distress ( d = 0.67), and higher ratings of life satisfaction ( d = 0.54) following the training with no or minor changes up for the control group ( d values 0.01–0.23), a pattern substantiated by significant group-by-time interactions. Despite limitations of this study, including a less than ideal control group to isolate effects of mindfulness and lack of a long-term follow-up, the results appear promising and may motivate further investigations.