The benefits of mindfulness training for momentary mindfulness and emotion regulation: A randomized controlled trial for adolescents exposed to chronic stressors.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) could mitigate the effects of life stressors on momentary mindfulness and emotion regulation difficulties in adolescents exposed to chronic stress.
Results Summary
The study found that MBI combined with mentoring significantly reduced the negative association between life stressors and mindful attention, mindful nonjudgment, and emotion regulation difficulties compared to mentoring alone, though the effects were small.
Population
Adolescents (N = 81, mean age 13.75 years, 56% boys, 24% Hispanic/Latino, 57% White) exposed to chronic stressors.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not explicitly stated, but assessments were conducted pre-, mid-, and post-intervention.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) + mentoring | decrease | mindful attention | adolescents exposed to chronic stressors | b = -.05, SE = .01, p < .001 | significantly associated with the random slopes of life stressor exposure predicting mindful attention | #1 |
mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) + mentoring | decrease | mindful nonjudgment | adolescents exposed to chronic stressors | b = -.03, SE = .01, p < .001 | significantly associated with the random slopes of life stressor exposure predicting mindful nonjudgment | #2 |
mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) + mentoring | decrease | emotion regulation difficulties | adolescents exposed to chronic stressors | b = -.04, SE = .01, p < .001 | significantly associated with the random slopes of life stressor exposure predicting emotion regulation difficulties | #3 |
mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) + mentoring | decrease | mindful attention | adolescents exposed to chronic stressors | small but significant attenuation | produced small but significant attenuation in the association of life stressors with mindful attention | #4 |
mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) + mentoring | decrease | mindful nonjudgment | adolescents exposed to chronic stressors | small but significant attenuation | produced small but significant attenuation in the association of life stressors with mindful nonjudgment | #5 |
mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) + mentoring | decrease | emotion regulation difficulties | adolescents exposed to chronic stressors | small but significant attenuation | produced small but significant attenuation in the association of life stressors with emotion regulation difficulties | #6 |
mindfulness training | decrease | mindfulness and emotion regulation | adolescents exposed to chronic stressors | - | may buffer against the negative impacts of life stressors on mindfulness and emotion regulation | #7 |
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to test if a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) compared to an active control ameliorates the impacts of life stressors on momentary mindfulness and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents exposed to chronic stressors. METHOD: Adolescents exposed to chronic stressors (N = 81, Mage = 13.75 years; 56% boys; 24% Hispanic/Latino, 57% White) were randomized to receive MBI within the context of a community-based mentoring program (MBI + mentoring) or mentoring-alone. Participants completed ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) three times each day for 7 days at three intervals/bursts (preintervention, midintervention, and postintervention), contributing to a total of 3,178 EMA reports. EMA assessed momentary exposure to life stressors, mindfulness (vs. mindlessness), and emotion regulation difficulties. RESULTS: Linear mixed-effects models revealed that the interaction between intervention arm (MBI + mentoring vs. mentoring-alone) and burst was significantly associated with the random slopes of life stressor exposure predicting mindful attention (b = -.05, SE = .01, p < .001), mindful nonjudgment (b = -.03, SE = .01, p < .001), and emotion regulation difficulties (b = -.04, SE = .01, p < .001). Estimated marginal means revealed that MBI + mentoring, compared to mentoring-alone, produced small but significant attenuation in the association of life stressors with mindful attention, mindful nonjudgment, and emotion regulation difficulties at postintervention. CONCLUSION: Mindfulness training may buffer adolescents exposed to chronic stressors against the negative impacts of life stressors on mindfulness and emotion regulation in daily life. Going forward, it will be important to investigate these relationships in the context of mental/physical health outcomes and to include longer periods of follow-up to determine the sustainable benefits of MBI for adolescent health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).