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. 2018;9(4):1191-1205.
doi: 10.1007/s12671-017-0856-1. Epub 2018 Jan 16.

A Randomised Controlled Trial of a Brief Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention in a Non-clinical Population: Replication and Extension

Kate Cavanagh  1 , Alasdair Churchard  1 , Puffin O'Hanlon  1 , Thomas Mundy  1 , Phoebe Votolato  1 , Fergal Jones  2   3 , Jenny Gu  1 , Clara Strauss  1   2
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A Randomised Controlled Trial of a Brief Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention in a Non-clinical Population: Replication and Extension

Kate Cavanagh et al. Mindfulness (N Y). 2018.

Abstract

Building on previous research, this study compared the effects of two brief, online mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs; with and without formal meditation practice) and a no intervention control group in a non-clinical sample. One hundred and fifty-five university staff and students were randomly allocated to a 2-week, self-guided, online MBI with or without mindfulness meditation practice, or a wait list control. Measures of mindfulness, perceived stress, perseverative thinking and anxiety/depression symptoms within were administered before and after the intervention period. Intention to treat analysis identified significant differences between groups on change over time for all measured outcomes. Participation in the MBIs was associated with significant improvements in all measured domains (all ps < 0.05), with effect sizes in the small to medium range (0.25 to 0.37, 95% CIs 0.11 to 0.56). No significant changes on these measures were found for the control group. Change in perseverative thinking was found to mediate the relationship between condition and improvement on perceived stress and anxiety/depression symptom outcomes. Contrary to our hypotheses, no differences between the intervention conditions were found. Limitations of the study included reliance on self-report data, a relatively high attrition rate and absence of a longer-term follow-up. This study provides evidence in support of the feasibility and effectiveness of brief, self-guided MBIs in a non-clinical population and suggests that reduced perseverative thinking may be a mechanism of change. Our findings provide preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of a mindfulness psychoeducation condition, without an invitation to formal mindfulness meditation practice. Further research is needed to confirm and better understand these results and to test the potential of such interventions.

Keywords: E-mental health; Internet intervention; Mediation; Meditation; Mindfulness; Self-help.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with Ethical StandardsThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee at the University of Sussex, UK and informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to participation.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Path diagram depicting the stage two mediational model, with changes in perseverative thinking style as the mediator
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
CONSORT diagram outlining the process of service user flow through the study
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Path diagram depicting model 1, testing whether improvements in perseverative thinking (PTQ Change) mediate the effects of mindfulness meditation versus psychoeducation (Contrast 1) or mindfulness meditation versus wait list control (Contrast 2) on improvements in perceived stress (PSS Change). Unstandardised path coefficients are displayed
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Path diagram depicting model 2, testing whether improvements in perseverative thinking (PTQ Change) mediate the effects of mindfulness meditation versus psychoeducation (Contrast 1) or mindfulness meditation versus wait list control (Contrast 2) on improvements in anxiety/depression symptom severity (PHQ4 Change). Unstandardised path coefficients are displayed
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