Brief Online Training in Mindfulness Meditation Momentarily Reduces Some Impulsive Behaviors: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Chunlei Ge, Yuhong Xie, Mei-Juan Sun, Fanfan Fan, Yiemin Zhang, Lei Liu
Mindfulness November 27, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-024-02479-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 70 |
| Population | Adults identified as having a low level of mindfulness |
| Dose | 10 min daily |
| Duration | 7-day intervention; follow-up half a month after training ended |
| Measures | Stroop tasks, Go/No-go tasks, Delay Discounting tasks |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | After one week, the mindfulness (monitor plus acceptance) group showed faster Stroop and Go/No-Go reaction times than monitor-only and control groups, indicating stronger cognitive and motoric impulse inhibition, but no improvement in delay-discounting decision-making. No effects persisted at the half-month follow-up. The authors argue acceptance is the key component producing a temporary de-automation effect. |
Abstract
The current study examined how brief mindfulness meditation training affects impulsive behaviors and their underlying mechanisms using a randomized controlled design with smartphone-based online interventions. A total of 70 participants who were identified with low level of mindfulness participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: mindfulness (monitor + acceptance, n = 24), monitor-only (n = 23), and no-intervention control (n = 23), in which mindfulness and monitor-only groups were required 10 min daily for a 7-days online intervention. These groups were established based on the Monitor and Acceptance Theory. Participants completed measurements about cognitive impulsivity (measured with Stroop tasks), motoric impulsivity (measured with Go/No-go tasks), and impulsive decision-making behaviors (measured with Delay Discounting tasks) at pre-test, post-test (after 1 week mindfulness training), and follow-up (half month after the end of training). The results revealed that at the post-test, the mindfulness group showed significantly reduced reaction times on the Stroop and Go/No-Go tasks compared to the monitor group and the control group, indicating stronger cognitive and motoric impulse inhibition abilities in the mindfulness group participants. Compared to the monitor and control groups, the mindfulness group did not show significantly improved impulsive decision-making abilities at post-test. At follow-up, all the results indicated that the brief mindfulness training did not have sustained effects. The current study suggests that monitor and acceptance training produced a momentarily de-automation effect on some impulsive behaviors, demonstrating enhanced cognitive and motoric impulse inhibition abilities. The study emphasizes the significance of the acceptance dimension in mindfulness training, offering valid methods and empirical evidence for mitigating impulsive behaviors through mindfulness training. The current study is not preregistered.
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 4
- Mindfulness-based interventions for gambling disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Behavioral Addictions February 3, 2026
- Effects of an eight-week mindfulness-informed psychoeducational intervention delivered during physical education lessons on self-reported aggression and impulsivity in adolescents Frontiers in Psychology October 12, 2026
- Linking mindfulness to phubbing among college students: a longitudinal mediation analysis of attentional control and dual-system self-control. Australian Journal of Psychology May 8, 2026
- The Role of Meditation in Shaping Resilience. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences May 1, 2026
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- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
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