Self-administered mindfulness interventions reduce stress in a large, randomized controlled multi-site study

Bibliographic Data

ID4635576
AuthorsAlessandro Sparacio (0009-0008-9818-3920, Swansea University, corresponding author), Hans I Jzerman (0000-0002-0990-2276, Institut Universitaire de France, corresponding author), Ivan Ropovik (0000-0001-5222-1233, Czech Academy of Sciences, corresponding author), Filippo Giorgini (0000-0001-9002-2294, University of Milano-Bicocca), Christoph Spiessens, Bert N Uchino (0000-0002-3036-6164, University of Utah), Joshua Landvatter (0000-0001-6111-8879, University of Utah), Tracey Tacana (0000-0003-2931-0320, University of Utah), Sandra J Diller (0000-0002-7188-7548, LMU Klinikum), Jaye L Derrick (0000-0002-9525-0170, University of Houston), Joahana Segundo (0000-0003-1788-6613, University of Houston), Jace D Pierce (0000-0003-3798-3146, University of Houston), Robert M Ro (0000-0001-8711-1675, Macquarie University), Zephi Francis (0000-0002-9488-9132, University of the Fraser Valley), Amanda Laboucane (University of the Fraser Valley), Christine Ma‐kellam (0000-0002-5468-5514, San Jose State University), Christine Ma-Kellams, Máire B Ford (0000-0002-5640-6566, Loyola Marymount University), Kathleen Schmidt (0000-0002-9946-5953, Ashland University), Celia C Wong, Celia C Y Wong (0000-0002-9194-1804, SUNY Brockport), Wendy C Higgins (0000-0003-1357-8330, Macquarie University), Bryant M Stone (0000-0002-2557-4874, Johns Hopkins University), Sandra Kumamoto Stanley (0000-0002-1272-5768, Australian National University), Gianni Ribeiro (0000-0002-2594-8311, University of Southern Queensland), Paul T Fuglestad (0000-0001-7354-3936, University of North Florida), Valerie Jaklin (University of Würzburg), Andrea Kübler (0000-0003-4876-0415, University of Würzburg), Philipp Ziebell (0000-0003-1591-3075, University of Würzburg), Crystal L Jewell (0009-0006-0396-8617, Iowa State University), Yulia Kovas (0000-0001-9633-6374, Goldsmiths University of London), Mahnoosh Allahghadri (Goldsmiths University of London), Charlotte Fransham (Goldsmiths University of London), Michael F Baranski, Michael F S Baranski (0000-0003-0960-7362, Western Pennsylvania Hospital), Hannah Burge, Hannah M Burgess (0000-0003-3577-4746, Western Pennsylvania Hospital), Annika B E Benz, Annika Benz (0000-0002-3380-991X, University of Konstanz), Maysa Desousa (0000-0002-1019-1686, Springfield College), Catherine E Nylin (0000-0003-3488-146X, Maricopa Community Colleges - Glendale Community College), Janae C Brooks (Maricopa Community Colleges - Glendale Community College), Caitlyn M Goldsmith (Maricopa Community Colleges - Glendale Community College), John M Benson (0000-0002-8375-5075, St. Olaf College), Susan M Griffin (0000-0002-3613-2844, University of Limerick), Sean Dunne (0000-0001-6415-2909, Northumbria University), William E Davis (0000-0002-8119-821X, Wittenberg University), Tam J Watermeyer, Tam Watermeyer (Northumbria University), William B Meese (0000-0002-7582-7550, University of California, Merced), Jennifer L Howell (0000-0001-5418-3736, University of California, Merced), Laurel Standiford Reyes (0000-0002-7805-4549, University of Southern Indiana), Megan G Strickland (0000-0003-4646-3767, Pace University), Sally S Dickerson (Pace University), Samantha Pescatore (Pace University), Shayna Skakoon-Sparling (0000-0002-5021-6593, Toronto Metropolitan University), Zachary I Wunder (0000-0003-1925-0301, Wayne State University), Martin V Day (0000-0001-5274-1626, Memorial University of Newfoundland), Shawna Brenton (0009-0007-7775-2170, Memorial University of Newfoundland), Audrey H Linden (0000-0002-2255-4958, The Open University), Christopher E Hawk (0000-0003-1334-0445, DigiPen Institute of Technology), Léan V O’brien (0000-0002-8919-3077, University of Canberra), Tenzin Urgyen (University of Northern Iowa), Jennifer S Mcdonald (0000-0001-8142-8233, Idaho State University), Kim Lien Van Der Schans (0000-0002-5219-9969, Radboud University Nijmegen), Heidi Blocker (Eastern Oregon University), Caroline Ng Tseung-Wong (0000-0001-6691-3468, University of Canberra), Gabriela M Jiga-Boy (0000-0003-3163-8798, Swansea University, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume8
Issue9
Pages1716-1725
Publication date2024-06-11
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNature Human Behaviour (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2397-3374 • E-ISSN: 2397-3374
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1038/s41562-024-01907-7
PMID38862815
OpenAlexW4399544389
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited40

Mindfulness witnessed a substantial popularity surge in the past decade, especially as digitally self-administered interventions became available at relatively low costs. Yet, it is uncertain whether they effectively help reduce stress. In a preregistered (OSF https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/UF4JZ; retrospective registration at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06308744) multi-site study (nsites = 37, nparticipants = 2,239, 70.4% women, Mage = 22.4, s.d.age = 10.1, all fluent English speakers), we experimentally tested whether four single, standalone mindfulness exercises effectively reduced stress, using Bayesian mixed-effects models. All exercises proved to be more efficacious than the active control. We observed a mean difference of 0.27 (d = −0.56; 95% confidence interval, −0.43 to −0.69) between the control condition (M = 1.95, s.d. = 0.50) and the condition with the largest stress reduction (body scan: M = 1.68, s.d. = 0.46). Our findings suggest that mindfulness may be beneficial for reducing self-reported short-term stress for English speakers from higher-income countries

Confidence interval · Mindfulness · Popularity · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Medicine · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions · Psychology · Social Psychology · Internal Medicine