Mindfulness improves psychological health and supports health behaviour cognitions: Evidence from a pragmatic RCT of a digital mindfulness-based intervention

IF 3.5 2区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

British Journal of Health Psychology Pub Date : 2024-08-21 DOI:10.1111/bjhp.12745

Masha Remskar, Max J. Western, Ben Ainsworth

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Abstract

Background

Mindfulness-based interventions can improve psychological health; yet the mechanisms of change are underexplored. This pre-registered remote RCT evaluated a freely accessible digital mindfulness programme aiming to improve well-being, mental health and sleep quality. Health behaviour cognitions were explored as possible mediators.

Methods

Participants from 91 countries (N = 1247, M_age = 27.03 [9.04]) were randomized to 30 days of mindfulness practice or attention-matched control condition. Measures of well-being, depression, anxiety, stress, sleep quality, barriers self-efficacy, self-regulation and behavioural predictors (e.g., attitudes and behavioural intentions) were taken at baseline, 1-month (post-intervention) and 2-months (follow-up). Linear regression examined intervention effects between and within groups. Longitudinal mediation analyses explored indirect effects through health behaviour cognitions.

Results

Three hundred participants completed post-intervention measures. Those receiving mindfulness training reported significantly better well-being (M_difference = 2.34, 95%CIs .45–4.24, p = .016), lower depression (M_difference = −1.47, 95%CIs −2.38 to −.56, p = .002) and anxiety symptoms (M_difference = −.77, 95%CIs −1.51 to −.02, p = .045) than controls. Improvements in well-being and depression were maintained at follow-up. Intervention effects on primary outcomes were mediated by attitudes towards health maintenance and behavioural intentions. Mediating effects of attitudes remained when controlling for prior scores in models of depression and well-being.

Conclusions

Digital, self-administered mindfulness practice for 30 days meaningfully improved psychological health, at least partially due to improved attitudes towards health behaviours and stronger behavioural intentions. This trial found that digital mindfulness is a promising and scalable well-being tool for the general population, and highlighted its role in supporting health behaviours.

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正念能改善心理健康并支持健康行为认知：基于数字正念的干预措施的实用性 RCT 证据。

背景：以正念为基础的干预措施可以改善心理健康；然而，对其变化机制的探索还很不够。这项预先登记的远程 RCT 评估了一项可免费获取的数字正念计划，该计划旨在改善幸福感、心理健康和睡眠质量。研究方法：来自 91 个国家的参与者（N = 1,000 人）参加了这项研究：来自 91 个国家的参与者（N = 1247，Mage = 27.03 [9.04]）被随机分配到为期 30 天的正念练习或注意力匹配对照组。分别在基线、1 个月（干预后）和 2 个月（随访）对幸福感、抑郁、焦虑、压力、睡眠质量、障碍自我效能、自我调节和行为预测因素（如态度和行为意向）进行测量。线性回归分析了组间和组内的干预效果。纵向中介分析探讨了通过健康行为认知产生的间接影响：结果：300 名参与者完成了干预后的测量。与对照组相比，接受正念训练者的幸福感（Mdifference = 2.34, 95%CIs .45-4.24, p = .016）、抑郁（Mdifference = -1.47, 95%CIs -2.38 to -.56, p = .002）和焦虑症状（Mdifference = -.77, 95%CIs -1.51 to -.02, p = .045）均显著改善。幸福感和抑郁方面的改善在随访中得以保持。对健康维护的态度和行为意向对主要结果的干预效果具有中介作用。当控制抑郁和幸福感模型中的先前得分时，态度的中介效应依然存在：为期 30 天的数字式自我管理正念练习能有效改善心理健康，至少部分原因是人们对健康行为的态度有所改善，行为意向有所加强。这项试验发现，数字正念对普通人群来说是一种有前景且可扩展的幸福工具，并强调了它在支持健康行为方面的作用。

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来源期刊

British Journal of Health Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

14.10

自引率

1.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： The focus of the British Journal of Health Psychology is to publish original research on various aspects of psychology that are related to health, health-related behavior, and illness throughout a person's life. The journal specifically seeks articles that are based on health psychology theory or discuss theoretical matters within the field.