The Longitudinal Mediating Effect of Distress Tolerance in a Mindfulness-Based Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial
B S Liu, Qiang Xie, Guan Ye, Ashley Y. Zhou, Angelica Jiaqi Zhang, Xinghua Liu
Journal of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies September 1, 2023 DOI: 10.24193/jebp.2023.2.10 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 129 |
| Population | Adults with a high level of emotional distress |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) |
| Duration | 6 weeks |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | The mindfulness-based intervention significantly predicted changes in observing, non-reactivity, overall mindfulness, and distress appraisal over six weeks. Distress appraisal at week 3 fully mediated the intervention's effects on non-reactivity and self-perceived stress at week 6, suggesting distress appraisal is a key mechanism. |
Abstract
"Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the intermediary role of distress tolerance in Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) with respect to self-perceived stress reduction.
Method: One hundred and twenty-nine adults with a high level of emotional distress were randomized into MBI groups or a waiting-list group. Levels of mindfulness skills, self-perceived stress, and distress tolerance (tolerance, appraisal, absorption, and regulation) were measured four times: pre-test, week 3, week 6, and post-test.
Results: The developmental trajectories modeled by the univariate latent growth curve showed that the factor intervention significantly predicted the slope of observing, non-reactivity, overall mindfulness, and distress appraisal during first six weeks. Bivariate latent growth curve models demonstrated a significant association between increases in the growth rate of distress appraisal and non-reactivity in participants receiving mindfulness training. Such an association was not observed among those who did not receive an MBI. Longitudinal mediation analyses further revealed that the effect of MBI on non-reactivity and self-perceived stress at week 6 was fully mediated by distress appraisal at week 3, respectively."
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 |