Study Examining the Effects of Mindfulness and Similar Audio-guided Exercises.
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
This study aims to examine whether greater length of mindfulness practice results in more beneficial outcomes.
Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
This study will randomise participants to one of three groups: (1) four sessions of medium length mindfulness practice (lasting 20 mins) and 5 mins of an audio book; (2) four sessions of brief mindfulness practice (lasting 5 mins) and 20 mins of an audio book; and (3) a control group who just receive 4 sessions of audio book (lasting 25 mins). In the mindfulness arms, in each session, the participants will receive the audio book prior to the mindfulness practice. Mindfulness levels, and depression, anxiety and stress will be measured by self-report at baseline, session by session, and at post-intervention.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: 20 minutes of mindfulness practice Two sessions a week for two weeks of: 5 minutes listening to audio book excerpts followed by 20 minutes of audio guided mindfulness practice. Participants will be asked not to engage in formal mindfulness practice outside of these sessions during the study. |
Behavioral: 20 minutes of mindfulness practice
A 20 minute audio guided mindfulness of breathing practice per session, for four sessions.
Other: 5 minute audio book
5 minutes from an audio book by Bill Bryson ('A Short History of Nearly Everything') per session, for four sessions.
|
Active Comparator: 5 minutes of mindfulness practice Two sessions a week for two weeks of: 20 minutes listening to audio book excerpts followed by 5 minutes of audio guided mindfulness practice. Participants will be asked not to engage in formal mindfulness practice outside of these sessions during the study. |
Behavioral: 5 minutes of mindfulness practice
A 5 minute audio guided mindfulness of breathing practice per session, for four sessions.
Other: 20 minute audio book
20 minutes from an audio book by Bill Bryson ('A Short History of Nearly Everything'), per session, for four sessions.
|
Placebo Comparator: Audio book control Two sessions a week for two weeks of: 25 minutes listening to audio book excerpts (with non mindfulness practice). Participants will be asked not to engage in formal mindfulness practice during the study. |
Other: 25 minute audio book
25 minutes from an audio book by Bill Bryson ('A Short History of Nearly Everything'), per session, for four sessions.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change from baseline at post-intervention (week 3) on the Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire -15 item version (FFMQ-15) [Post-intervention (3 weeks after baseline).]
The Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire -15 item version is a self-report measure of mindfulness, producing a total score between 15 and 75, with higher scores indicating greater levels of mindfulness. (Note that the observe subscale will be excluded from the calculation of the total score, as recommended in https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21865 and http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pas0000263 producing a total score between 12 and 60).
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Change from baseline at post-intervention (week 3) on the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 item version (DASS-21). [Post-intervention (3 weeks after baseline).]
The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 is a self-report measure of depression, anxiety and stress, producing a total score between 0 and 63, with higher scores indicating greater symptomatology.
Other Outcome Measures
- Sessional Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire -15 item version (FFMQ-15) scores. [Baseline, session 2 (week 1), session 3 and 4 (week 2), and post-intervention (week 3).]
The FFMQ-15 (described above) will be administered at the start of the first session (baseline), immediately after sessions 2 (week 1), 3 (week 2) and 4 (week 2), and at post-intervention (week 3), to examine patterns in changes in mindfulness over the course of the study.
- Sessional Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 item version (DASS-21) scores [Baseline, session 2 (week 1), session 3 and 4 (week 2), and post-intervention (week 3).]
The DASS-21 (described above) will be administered at the start of the first session (baseline), immediately after sessions 2 (week 1), 3 (week 2) and 4 (week 2), and at post-intervention (week 3), to to examine patterns in changes over the course of the study.
- Session 1 Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS). [Session 1 (week 1).]
The TMS is a 13-item self-report measure of state mindfulness that produces scores for curiosity and decentering. The curiosity score ranges from 0 to 24, the decentering score from 0 to 28, and the total score from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating greater curiosity, decentering and overall state mindfulness respectively.
- Session 2 Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS). [Session 2 (week 1).]
As described above.
- Session 3 Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS). [Session 3 (week 2).]
As described above.
- Session 4 Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS). [Session 4 (week 2).]
As described above.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Members of the general public, especially university students or staff.
-
Adequate understanding of spoken and written English
Exclusion Criteria:
-
Currently experiencing significant difficulties with their mental wellbeing.
-
Currently have a personal mindfulness practice.
-
Currently participating in a mindfulness-based intervention.
Contacts and Locations
Locations
Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Canterbury Christ Church University | Tunbridge Wells | Kent | United Kingdom | TN1 2YG |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Canterbury Christ Church University
Investigators
- Study Director: Fergal Jones, PhD, PsychD, Canterbury Christ Church University
- Study Director: James Cane, PhD, Canterbury Christ Church University
- Principal Investigator: Sarah Strohmaier, MSc, Canterbury Christ Church University
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- S_Strohmaier_29-11-18