The effectiveness and acceptability of formal versus informal mindfulness among university students with and without recent nonsuicidal self-injury: Protocol for an online, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the impacts of formal (FM) and informal (IM) mindfulness practices on state mindfulness, stress, well-being, and acceptability in university students with and without a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI).
Results Summary
The study protocol suggests that IM may be better tolerated and more effective than FM for students with NSSI, with expected improvements in mindfulness, stress, and well-being, while no such distinction is anticipated for students without NSSI.
Population
University students with and without recent nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI).
Effective Dosage
10-minute single-session practices (FM, IM, or active control).
Duration
Single session (10 minutes).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
brief informal mindfulness (IM) practice | increase | tolerability | university students with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) | - | expected to be better tolerated | #1 |
brief informal mindfulness (IM) practice | increase | state mindfulness | university students with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) | - | expected to report greater improvements | #2 |
brief informal mindfulness (IM) practice | decrease | state stress | university students with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) | - | expected to report greater improvements | #3 |
brief informal mindfulness (IM) practice | increase | state well-being | university students with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) | - | expected to report greater improvements | #4 |
brief informal mindfulness (IM) practice | increase | acceptability | university students with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) | - | expected to report greater acceptability | #5 |
brief formal mindfulness (FM) practice | decrease | benefits | university students with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) | - | difficulties may undermine the benefits | #6 |
brief informal mindfulness (IM) practice | no change | improvements in state mindfulness, stress, and well-being, and acceptability | university students without a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (no-NSSI comparison group) | - | distinction is not expected to occur | #7 |
BACKGROUND: Mindfulness-based programming comprising both formal (FM) and informal (IM) mindfulness practice is increasingly offered to university students. However, difficulties with emotion regulation, self-criticism, and a potentially complex relationship with their body may undermine the benefits of FM for students with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), given its requirement of sustained attention on thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. IM may be better tolerated by these students. This protocol describes a randomized controlled trial comparing a brief FM practice, a brief IM practice, and an active control task in university students with and without recent NSSI. METHODS: Recruitment began in November 2022. An online, parallel-group, single-blind, randomized controlled trial will compare a 10-min, single-session FM practice, a 10-min, single session IM practice, and a 10-min, single session active control task in university students with and without recent NSSI. Outcomes will be assessed immediately pre-intervention and within five minutes post-intervention. The primary outcome will be state mindfulness. Secondary outcomes will be state stress, state well-being, and acceptability. Students with a history of NSSI are expected to report (i) greater improvements in state mindfulness, stress, and well-being, and (ii) greater acceptability in the IM condition, relative to the FM and control conditions. This distinction is not expected to occur in the no-NSSI comparison group. CONCLUSION: This trial is the first to parse out the impacts of FM versus IM practice among university students with and without a history of self-injury. Findings will be relevant to academic and clinical audiences within university settings.