Effectiveness of an online short-term audio-based mindfulness program on negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic: Latent growth curve analyses of anxiety and moderated mediation effects of anxiety between mindfulness and negative affect

Abstract

This pilot study aims to explore the effects and mechanisms of a mindfulness-based intervention on negative emotions in community settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants ( N = 100) were randomized into an intervention group ( n = 50) and a waitlist control group ( n = 50). Participants in the mindfulness group underwent 3 weeks (21 sessions) of an online audio-based mindfulness-based intervention program and completed the online measures four times whereas those in the waitlist control group needed to complete the measures twice. Participants completed measures of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. The results of the measures of the two groups were compared. Moderated mediation analysis was used to analyze intervention outcomes on negative affect through anxiety. Unconditional quadratic latent growth analysis was used to test the growth trajectories of anxiety. The results showed that this intervention program was effective at improving positive affect and at reducing depression, anxiety, and negative affect. The baseline anxiety moderator was found to be significant, and indirect effects of anxiety post-intervention were found between the mindfulness-based intervention and negative affect. Anxiety levels of participants were not at the same starting point and had similar but non-quadratic growth trajectories. The mindfulness-based intervention program was effective at promoting mental wellbeing and reducing mental problems in community settings in China. Mindfulness practices were beneficial to people with different anxiety levels but had more obvious benefits on anxiety and a negative affect for participants with low anxiety levels. Clinical trial registration: ISRCTN16205138 on 26/02/2021.

Internet-delivered transdiagnostic psychological treatments for individuals with depression, anxiety or both: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

“…In the 57 included trials, 21 795 participants were randomised 46–102. Arms were as follows: 83 internet-delivered transdiagnostic psychological treatments, 36 rudimentary controls, 8 attention/engagement controls and three other bona-fide treatments.…”

Parental efficacy after a military parenting program: A dyadic latent growth model

“…Specifically, we examined the longitudinal changes in parental efficacy over 2 years after couples participated in the ADAPT intervention, comparing growth trajectories in the intervention group and the control group. Recent research (e.g., Cho & Braaten, 2022 ; Kang et al, 2022 ) suggests that postintervention change over time might be more accurately described as following a quadratic rather than a linear pattern, thus, we tested both linear and quadratic models to determine which more accurately fit the observed data (Aim 1). Then, emotional distress at baseline was examined to determine if there were associations with the parent’s individual trajectory (actor effect) or partner’s trajectory (partner effect) of parental efficacy over time (Aim 2).…”