The differential effects of three mindfulness techniques on indicators of emotional well-being and life satisfaction
ML Fallon
UTAS Research Repository 2014 DOI: 10.25959/23241086 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 263 |
| Population | Community sample of adults |
| Interventions | Mindfulness of breath (MOB) Body scanning (BS) Everyday mindfulness (EDM) |
| Duration | 8-week course with 3-month post-completion follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | All three mindfulness training groups showed improvements in life satisfaction, emotion regulation, and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress after 8 weeks, maintained at 3 months, while mindfulness scores unexpectedly decreased. The authors conclude the results provide some support for greater efficacy of the formal meditative approaches (mindfulness of breath and body scanning) over informal everyday mindfulness for gains maintained after training. |
Abstract
The efficacy of mindfulness-based therapies for treatment of a range of psychological presentations has been demonstrated by a substantial amount of research. The present study compared three specific mindfulness techniques: mindfulness of breath (MOB), body scanning (BS), and everyday mindfulness (EDM). A community sample of 263 was recruited to complete an 8-week course, with participants randomly assigned to MOB, BS, or EDM training groups of 8-10 people. Self-report measures of stress, anxiety, depression, life satisfaction, emotional regulation, and mindfulness were administered at baseline, after 4 weeks of training, at the completion of training, and 3 months post completion of the training. ANOV As investigating change over time on each dependent variable as a function of training group were conducted with data for the 100 participants who remained for the duration of the study. Regardless of training type, between the start and finish of the 8-week course all 3 groups reported increases in life satisfaction and emotion regulation and decreases in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. These gains were also maintained and recorded at 3 months post completion of the training. Unexpectedly, mindfulness scores were found to decrease. Significant time-by-group interactions were found for stress and emotion regulation only. There was a significant decrease in scores on stress between end of training and the 3-month follow-up only for participants in the EDM group; there was no difference in stress scores for participants in the MOB and BS groups. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation scores significantly decreased across the same time period for participants in the MOB and BS groups; while there was no significant change in the EDM group. These results provide some support for the greater efficacy of the formal meditative approaches (MOB and BS) compared to the informal EDM approach in providing gains that are maintained post-training.
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 16
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- A Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Clinical Trial: The Effect of a Mindfulness Meditation-Based Stress Reduction Program on Mood and Symptoms of Stress in Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine September 1, 2000
- Metacognitive awareness and prevention of relapse in depression: Empirical evidence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2002
- Defining mindfulness by how poorly I think I pay attention during everyday awareness and other intractable problems for psychology's (re)invention of mindfulness: Comment on Brown et al. (2011). Psychological Assessment 2011
and 11 more in the library