The Effectiveness of a Mindfulness Induction as a Buffer Against Stress Among University Students With and Without a History of Self-Injury.
Julia Petrovic, Laurianne Bastien, Jessica Mettler, Nancy L. Heath
Psychological Reports April 27, 2022 DOI: 10.1177/00332941221089282 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 164 |
| Population | Canadian university students with (n = 82) and without (n = 82) a history of nonsuicidal self-injury, matched on gender, age, and faculty; predominantly female (87.8% in each group) |
| Interventions | Mindfulness induction active control task |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Self-injurious behavior Universities Canada Female Young adult University students Nonsuicidal self-injury Stress induction |
| Key findings | A brief mindfulness induction did not prevent stress from increasing after a stress induction in any group. Among control participants, students with an NSSI history showed lower state mindfulness of the body after stress than those without; the mindfulness induction was associated with greater state mindfulness of the body in students with an NSSI history compared with the control task. |
Abstract
Stressful experiences are abundant in university and students with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) may be hyper-reactive to stress. While brief mindfulness inductions have been proposed as a buffer against acute stress, whether they function differently in students with a history of NSSI remains in question. This study sought to explore the impact of an online mindfulness induction on (a) two facets of state mindfulness (i.e., mind and body) and (b) state stress, following a stress induction task, in university students with versus without a history of NSSI. Participants were Canadian university students with (n = 82; Mage = 21.30 years, SD = 2.92; 87.8% female) and without (n = 82; Mage = 21.71 years, SD = 3.18; 87.8% female) a history of NSSI, matched on gender, age, and faculty, who completed baseline (T1) measures of state stress and state mindfulness. Participants were randomly assigned to complete a mindfulness induction or an active control task. All participants then underwent a stress induction, and again completed measures of state stress and state mindfulness (T2). Results from three-way mixed ANOVAs revealed that state stress increased from T1 to T2 for all participants, regardless of group or condition. Among those assigned to the control condition, state mindfulness of the body was lower at T2 for participants with a history of NSSI compared to those without such a history. However, participants with a history of NSSI who completed the mindfulness induction reported greater state mindfulness of the body at T2 than students with a history of NSSI who completed an active control task. Findings highlight the unique response of university students with a history of NSSI to a brief mindfulness induction. Implications are discussed in the context of future research and clinical applications.
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 2
- Feasibility study of an embodied and embedded mindfulness- and compassion-based intervention for non-suicidal self-injury disorder. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies September 1, 2025
- Surprise and delight: Response to informal versus formal mindfulness among university students with self-injury. Psychological Services December 7, 2023
Cites 9
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- Effects of Brief and Sham Mindfulness Meditation on Mood and Cardiovascular Variables The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine July 28, 2010
- Coping With COVID-19: Mindfulness-Based Approaches for Mitigating Mental Health Crisis. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2021
and 4 more in the library