Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy with Hospitalized Depressed Individuals–The Temporal Order of Change in Mindfulness, Rumination, and Affect
Maja Stańko-kaczmarek, Tomasz Jankowski, Robert Bartel, Maria Stankowska, Marta Andrzejewska, Filip Rybakowski, Łukasz Kaczmarek, Janusz Rybakowski
Journal of Happiness Studies August 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s10902-025-00932-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational diary study (intensive longitudinal) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 47 |
| Population | Hospitalized inpatients with depressive episodes participating in MBAT |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) mindfulness techniques mindful art exercises group discussions art exercises |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based art therapy was accompanied by increased mindfulness and positive affect and decreased rumination and negative affect over time, but session-to-session changes in mindfulness did not predict later changes in rumination or affect, nor the reverse. Time spent on mindfulness home practice was associated with reduced rumination, while time spent on art exercises was linked to improved emotional states, suggesting mindfulness targets cognitive patterns and art regulates emotions. |
Abstract
Abstract Mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) is an interdisciplinary intervention that integrates mindfulness techniques with art activities. While previous research has examined MBAT’s effectiveness in reducing depressive symptoms, little is known about the temporal dynamics of change during participation. This study explored session-to-session changes in mindfulness, rumination, and affect among hospitalized patients with depressive episodes. The study involved 47 inpatients who participated in MBAT, including mindfulness techniques, mindful art exercises, and group discussions. Participants reported mindfulness, rumination, and emotions twice weekly using a diary method. Results indicated increased mindfulness and positive affect and decreased rumination and negative affect over time. However, contrary to expectations, changes in mindfulness did not predict later changes in rumination or affect. No evidence was found for reverse associations, meaning that changes in rumination or affect did not predict subsequent mindfulness. Instead, more time spent on mindfulness practice during home assignments was associated with reduced rumination, while time spent on art exercises was linked to improved emotional states. These findings suggest that mindfulness practice primarily targets cognitive patterns, such as repetitive negative thinking, while art-based activities regulate emotional states. Additionally, mindfulness, rumination, and affect exhibited oscillatory patterns, with greater fluctuations over longer time intervals and among participants with shorter therapy durations. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of change in MBAT, emphasizing the importance of balancing mindfulness and art-based exercises to optimize therapeutic outcomes. Future research should explore how sequencing and integration of these components affect intervention effectiveness.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 31
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
and 26 more in the library