Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Mental Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of brief mindfulness training have increased significantly over the past decade.
• Preliminary evidence suggests these programs may improve mental health outcomes, particularly negative affectivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability of brief mindfulness training in reducing negative affectivity through a meta-analysis.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and the Mindfulness Research Monthly Newsletter identified 65 RCTs with 5,489 participants.
• Participants were predominantly female (64.64%) with a mean age of 24.62, and most lacked prior meditation experience.

Main Results:

• Brief mindfulness training showed a small but significant effect in reducing negative affectivity (g = .21, p < .001).
• Community samples exhibited larger effects (g = .41) than student samples (g = .14).
• Publication bias was detected, reducing the overall effect size to g = .04 when accounted for.

Conclusions:

• Brief mindfulness training offers a modest reduction in negative affectivity.
• The presence of publication bias necessitates continued rigorous evaluation of these interventions.