Turning the tide: A randomized controlled trial of a brief digital mindfulness intervention to reduce immediate and...

The current study aimed to explore the effectiveness and mechanisms of mindfulness on alleviating both immediate and delayed negative interpretation biases (NIB).

A total of 105 college students (female: 84.62 %, age: 17-23) with high levels of depression were randomly assigned to a mindfulness-writing group, a mindfulness-only group and a waiting list group, and completed measures of mindfulness, depression, anxiety, NIB across three points in time (pre-, mid, and post interventions). The two intervention groups underwent two phases, each lasting 21 days, with daily self-guided digital interventions lasting 15-30 min.

In terms of intervention effects: (1) Both intervention groups significantly improved levels of observing, describing, non-judging, and non-reactivity. While the waiting list showed a significant decline in acting with awareness, both intervention groups remained stable. (2) The mindfulness-only group significantly reduced delayed NIB. (3) In terms of reaction time as an indicator, both interventions did not reduce immediate NIB. However, in terms of frequency as an indicator, the mindfulness-only group effectively alleviated immediate NIB. In terms of mechanisms: (1) Regarding delayed NIB, acting with awareness and non-reactivity significantly mediated the relationship between groups and delayed NIB. (2) For immediate NIB, when measured by frequency, non-judging and non-reactivity significantly mediated the relationship between groups and immediate NIB.

Acting with awareness and non-judging, as mindfulness sub-dimensions, play unique roles in alleviating delayed and immediate NIB, respectively. The enhancement of non-reactivity contributes to the reduction of both immediate and delayed NIB.