Investigating the protective effects of mindfulness-based attention training on mind wandering in applied settings.
Malena M Price, Anthony P Zanesco, Ekaterina Denkova, Jordan Barry, Scott L. Rogers, Amishi P. Jha
Frontiers in Psychology 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1232598 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Internal meta-analysis of five longitudinal studies Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 304 |
| Population | Participants in a variety of organizational cohorts (five longitudinal studies) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT) |
| Duration | 4 weeks |
| Measures | self-reported mind wandering, self-reported meta-awareness, sustained attention to response task (SART) accuracy (A'), intra-individual coefficient of variation (ICV) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cognition Mind wandering Off-task thoughts Sustained attention Workplace |
| Key findings | Across five studies, MBAT groups improved more than no-training groups from baseline to four weeks on self-reported mind wandering (ΔSMC = -0.387), meta-awareness (ΔSMC = -0.374), and response-time variability (ΔSMC = -0.376). The authors present this as preliminary proof-of-concept support that MBAT may protect against mind wandering and is amenable to implementation across applied and organizational settings. |
Abstract
Mind wandering, a phenomenon in which attention drifts away from the task-at-hand, is associated with deleterious effects on performance and well-being. As such, efforts to curb mind wandering are warranted. Recently, mindfulness training (MT) has been found to protect against mind wandering. Yet, many MT programs are at risk of falling off the implementation cliff due to challenges implementing these programs in applied settings. To mitigate against this, early-stage research in small convenience samples may be necessary to spur stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Herein, the effects of MT on mind wandering were examined via an internal meta-analysis of early-stage studies of a manualized, context-adaptable short-form MT program, referred to as Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT). Five longitudinal studies (N = 304) were conducted in a variety of organizational cohorts. Self-reported mind wandering and meta-awareness, as well as accuracy (A') and response time variability (intra-individual coefficient of variation, ICV) during performance of the sustained attention to response task (SART) were assessed at baseline (T1) and 4 weeks later (T2) in MBAT and no-training participants. Standardized mean change (SMC) from T1 to T2 significantly differed between MBAT and no-training groups for mind wandering (ΔSMC = -0.387, p < 0.001), meta-awareness (ΔSMC = -0.374, p < 0.001), and ICV (ΔSMC = -0.376, p = 0.043), suggesting potential protective effects in self-reported and performance-based metrics of mind wandering. These results serve as preliminary proof-of-concept support for MBAT's protective effects on mind wandering. Further, they suggest that MBAT is amenable to implementation across a variety of applied and organizational settings and warrants additional research employing larger sample sizes in randomized controlled designs.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cites 14
- Mindfulness Training Improves Working Memory Capacity and GRE Performance While Reducing Mind Wandering Psychological Science March 28, 2013
- Metacognitive awareness and prevention of relapse in depression: Empirical evidence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2002
- Investigating the phenomenological matrix of mindfulness-related practices from a neurocognitive perspective. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. Emotion February 6, 2012
- Prospects for a clinical science of mindfulness-based intervention. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
and 9 more in the library