Can Mindfulness-Based Training Improve Positive Emotion and Cognitive Ability in Chinese Non-clinical Population? A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objective Based on eastern philosophy, mindfulness is becoming popular for human being’s mental health and well-being in western countries. In this study, we proposed to explore the effectiveness and potential pathway of mindfulness-based training (MBT) on Chinese Non-clinical higher education students’ cognition and emotion. Methods A paired control design was used. 48 higher education students (24 in MBT group, 24 in control group) were recruited in the study. The MBT group engaged in a 12-week MBT. A package of measurements, including sustained attention tasks (The Continuous Performance Test, CPT), executive function task (Stroop) for cognitive functions, the self-reported mindfulness levels (The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, MAAS) and emotion (The Profile of Mood States, POMS), were apply for all participants at baseline and every 4 weeks during next 12 weeks. Results There were no differences in baseline demographic variables between two groups. Over the 12-week training, participants assigned to MBT group had a significantly greater reduction in CPT reaction time (Cohen’s d 0.72), significantly greater improvement in positive emotion (Vigor-Activity, VA) (Cohen’s d 1.08) and in MAAS (Cohen’s d 0.49) than those assigned to control group. And, MAAS at 4th week could significantly predict the CPT RT and VA at 8th week in the MBT group. VA at 4th week could significantly predict the CPT RT at 8th week ( B = 4.88, t = 2.21, p = 0.034, R 2 = 0.35). Conclusion This study shows the efficiency of 12-week MBT on Chinese Non-clinical students’ cognition and emotion. Mindfulness training may impact cognition and emotion through the improvement in mindfulness level, and may impact cognition through the improvement in positive emotion.

Using Mindfulness to Reduce Anxiety and Depression of Patients With Fever Undergoing Screening in an Isolation Ward During the COVID-19 Outbreak

“…Recently, Lorca et al (2019) suggested that a single-session mindfulness practice using a meditation recording reduced both subjective and objective anxiety in patients undergoing a PET/ CT study. With the support of a previous study, mindfulness interventions can significantly improve participants' positive emotions (Keng et al, 2011), reduce the self-reported level of anxiety and depression (Hoge et al, 2013;Würtzen et al, 2013;Liu et al, 2019;Zhu et al, 2019;Buckner et al, 2020), and even adjust heart rate (Lorca et al, 2019). Our results are consistent with the conclusion that mindfulness interventions can adjust a patient's mood and may have clinical implications for people in quarantine to reduce psychological stress.…”

“…In the last few decades, mindfulness-related interventions have been applied extensively both in China and abroad, especially in clinical settings (Hoge et al, 2013;Würtzen et al, 2013;Liu et al, 2019;Buckner et al, 2020); however, they also affect the non-clinical population (Arch and Craske, 2006;Zhu et al, 2019). Recently, Lorca et al (2019) suggested that a single-session mindfulness practice using a meditation recording reduced both subjective and objective anxiety in patients undergoing a PET/ CT study.…”

<p>The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress in Associations Between Self-Compassion and Anxiety and Depression: Further Evidence from Chinese Medical Workers</p>

“… 32 One study supported the efficiency of MBT on cognition and emotion of Chinese non-clinical higher education students. 33 Another empirical study suggested that perceived stress was positively associated with anxiety/depression, self-compassion was negatively associated with perceived stress, and self-compassion had no significant correlation with anxiety/depression. 34 Admittedly, based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), the strongest evidence for effectiveness in reducing stress in the workplace is for stress-management courses.…”

Investigating mindfulness influences on cognitive function: On the promise and potential of converging research strategies (currently in press at Psychonomic Bulletin &amp; Review)

“…It is therefore perhaps unsurprising that research examining the effect of MBIs on cognitive control have yielded mixed results. Several studies reported no change in behavioral performance on the Stroop task after MBI training relative to active (Jensen, Vangkilde, Frokjaer, & Hasselbalch, 2012;Josefsson, Lindwall, & Broberg, 2014) and waitlist controls (Anderson et al, 2007;Zhu, Xue, Montuclard, Jiang, Weng, & Chen, 2019). Similar null findings have been reported for flanker performance on the ANT-neither MBSR nor a 14session college mindfulness seminar improved performance relative to controls (Jha, Krompinger, & Baime, 2007;Tang, Broderick, Bono, Dvorakova, & Braver, 2020).…”