Psychological Changes Following MBSR and CCT Interventions in a Brief and Intensive Retreat Format: A Sequential Randomized Crossover Study

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the effects of two meditation-based programs, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT), in a brief and intensive format on various psychological variables in a group of healthy volunteer adults attending a retreat with a crossover design.

Method

Participants received both interventions in a random order over 7 days (MBSR-CCT, n = 25; CCT-MBSR, n = 24). Assessments were conducted at three different times: Day 1 (pre-program), Day 4 (after completing the first program and before starting the second program), and Day 7 (post-second program), with a follow-up assessment 3 months later.

Results

A significant time main effect was found for emotion regulation (p < 0.001; b = 0.49), self-compassion (p < 0.001; b = − 0.78), mindfulness (p < 0.001; b = − 1.06), low-arousal positive affect (p < 0.001; b = − 1.39), and high-arousal negative affect (p < 0.001; b = 1.82), with improvements in the expected directions observed in both groups. However, the combination of MBSR followed by CCT showed an advantage in some psychological outcomes following the retreat. The follow-up analysis revealed that some of the psychological benefits observed were retained after 3 months (e.g., emotional distress and regulation, self-compassion, and mindfulness), especially in the groups starting their training with MBSR followed by CCT.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the benefits of meditation-based interventions in a brief and intensive format for psychological functioning in healthy adults, providing novel results on the sequential and combined effects of MBSR and CCT, with implications for practice and interventions.

Pre-registration

The study was pre-registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05516355).