Influence of a Brief Online Mindfulness Intervention on Metacognition, Cognition, and Emotional Outcomes Among University Students: A Randomized Longitudinal Trial
Jordan S. H. Thomson, Stephen C. van Hedger
Psychology International July 9, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/psycholint7030060 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized longitudinal experiment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | University students |
| Intervention | Podcast control |
| Dose | 15 min daily |
| Duration | 31 days |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Education |
| Key findings | A brief online mindfulness program improved self-reported mindfulness and metacognition and was rated more enjoyable and useful than a podcast control, but the two groups did not differ on any cognitive or affective outcome after the intervention. The authors suggest such programs may produce near transfer to proximal domains but that far transfer to cognition and affect remains unsupported. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been previously linked with improved cognition and reduced stress, anxiety, and depression. Yet, traditional MBIs are lengthy and resource intensive. Brief and online MBIs represent a bridge into more extensive practice—but questions of whether these protocols improve cognition and affect remain. The present experiment used a randomized longitudinal design to assess the effects of a 31-day, 15 min daily mindfulness program compared to a podcast control on a battery of cognitive and self-report measures in a sample of university students. Results indicated that, over the course of the study, the MBI group found their intervention less challenging, more enjoyable, more relaxing, more engaging, and more useful compared to the podcast control group. MBI participants also increased in state and dispositional mindfulness and state metacognition following the intervention relative to the Podcast group. However, both groups scored comparably on all cognitive and affective post-intervention measures, with equivalence testing suggesting that the observed effect sizes in the present study were significantly smaller than in some previously reported effects. Taken together, the results suggest that while brief online MBIs can elicit near transfer to proximal domains (e.g., mindfulness, metacognition), more work is needed to make strong claims that these MBIs elicit far transfer to cognitive and affective domains.
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 30
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine May 1, 2009
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
and 25 more in the library