Turning the tide: A randomized controlled trial of a brief digital mindfulness intervention to reduce immediate and delayed negative interpretation bias.
Journal of Affective Disorders October 21, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.120391 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 105 |
| Population | College students with high levels of depression (84.62% female, age 17-23) |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-writing Mindfulness-only |
| Duration | Two phases, each lasting 21 days, with daily self-guided digital interventions lasting 15-30 min |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Both mindfulness interventions improved mindfulness facets, but only the mindfulness-only group significantly reduced delayed negative interpretation bias and, when measured by frequency, immediate bias. Acting with awareness and non-reactivity mediated delayed bias reductions, while non-judging and non-reactivity mediated immediate bias reductions by frequency. |
Abstract
Objective: The current study aimed to explore the effectiveness and mechanisms of mindfulness on alleviating both immediate and delayed negative interpretation biases (NIB).
Method: A total of 105 college students (female: 84.62 %, age: 17-23) with high levels of depression were randomly assigned to a mindfulness-writing group, a mindfulness-only group and a waiting list group, and completed measures of mindfulness, depression, anxiety, NIB across three points in time (pre-, mid, and post interventions). The two intervention groups underwent two phases, each lasting 21 days, with daily self-guided digital interventions lasting 15-30 min.
Results: In terms of intervention effects: (1) Both intervention groups significantly improved levels of observing, describing, non-judging, and non-reactivity. While the waiting list showed a significant decline in acting with awareness, both intervention groups remained stable. (2) The mindfulness-only group significantly reduced delayed NIB. (3) In terms of reaction time as an indicator, both interventions did not reduce immediate NIB. However, in terms of frequency as an indicator, the mindfulness-only group effectively alleviated immediate NIB. In terms of mechanisms: (1) Regarding delayed NIB, acting with awareness and non-reactivity significantly mediated the relationship between groups and delayed NIB. (2) For immediate NIB, when measured by frequency, non-judging and non-reactivity significantly mediated the relationship between groups and immediate NIB.
Conclusion: Acting with awareness and non-judging, as mindfulness sub-dimensions, play unique roles in alleviating delayed and immediate NIB, respectively. The enhancement of non-reactivity contributes to the reduction of both immediate and delayed NIB.
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 10
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Mindful attention reduces neural and self-reported cue-induced craving in smokers Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience November 22, 2011
- An adapted Delphi approach: The use of an expert panel to operationally define non-judgment of internal experiences as it relates to mindfulness. Complementary Therapies in Medicine May 17, 2020
- Investigating the Role of Interpretation Bias in Mindfulness-Based Treatment of Adults With Generalized Anxiety Disorder Frontiers in Psychology February 11, 2020
and 5 more in the library