Predictors of Out-of-Class Mindfulness Practice Adherence During and After a Mindfulness-Based Intervention

Abstract

Objective: Out-of-class mindfulness meditation practice is a health behavior that is considered to be a crucial ingredient in mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), yet participant adherence to practice recommendations is often inconsistent. Furthermore, MBIs may enhance factors that lead to greater adherence to medical regimens in other contexts. This study examined baseline factors previously found to relate to adherence to medical regimen, MBI-related changes in these baseline factors, and treatment-related factors as predictors of meditation adherence in an 8-week MBI. Methods: Baseline traits (personality, depressive symptoms, and executive function) were entered into regression models (n = 96) to predict intervention and postintervention out-of-class meditation adherence. Trait changes and treatment-related factors were entered into models to predict postintervention meditation adherence. Results: Baseline conscientiousness (β = 0.33, p = .002), openness (β = 0.23, p = .019), and depressive symptoms (β = 0.19, p = .042) predicted intervention meditation adherence, whereas conscientiousness (β = 0.21, p = .044) and depressive symptoms (β = 0.22, p = .020) predicted postintervention meditation adherence. Although all trait variables except for agreeableness changed significantly pre-to-post intervention, these changes did not predict postintervention meditation adherence. Retreat attendance (β = 0.38, p = .029) and instructor/ group-related therapeutic factors collectively predicted postintervention meditation adherence (R 2 = 0.21, p = .019). Conclusions: The identified baseline trait factors could be used to increase adherence in these interventions as a method of increasing their effectiveness. An emphasis on the MBI retreat and social factors during the intervention may be important for participant out-of-class practice postintervention. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01831362.

Efficacy and feasibility of the minimal therapist-guided four-week online audio-based mindfulness program ‘Mindful Senses’ for burnout and stress reduction in medical personnel: A randomized controlled trial

“…Participants in both groups listened to the audios during MS more than post-MS. We think that the differences in duration and number of audio listening between groups, and between MS and post-MS might be explained by some unexplored factors. A 2021 study by Canby, NK et al [51] showed that baseline conscientiousness, openness, and depressive symptoms predicted intervention meditation adherence. Hence, we think that our participants' personality traits may have been different at the baseline and this affected adherence.…”

“…Moreover, the depression level of Group B was alleviated to some degree by the PSA before the beginning of MS, and this may have led to lower adherence to audio listening in Group B. The Canby, NK et al study [51] also reported conscientiousness and depressive symptoms predicted post-intervention adherence. We think that the lower number of audio listening after MS than during MS in both groups might be because their depression had already improved.…”

Efficacy and Feasibility of the Minimal Therapist-Guided Four-Week Online Audio-Based Mindfulness Program ‘Mindful Senses’ for Burnout and Stress Reduction in Medical Personnel: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Participants in both groups listened to the audios during MS more than post-MS. We think that the differences in duration and number of audio listening sessions between groups, and between MS and post-MS, might be explained by some unexplored factors. A 2021 study by Canby et al [ 51 ] showed that baseline conscientiousness, openness, and depressive symptoms predicted intervention meditation adherence. Hence, we think that our participants’ personality traits may have been different at the baseline and that this affected adherence.…”

“…Moreover, the depression level of Group B was alleviated to some degree by the PSA before the beginning of MS, which may have led to lower adherence to audio listening sessions in Group B. The Canby et al, study [ 51 ] also reported that conscientiousness and depressive symptoms predicted post-intervention adherence. We think that the lower number of audio listening sessions after MS than during MS in both groups might be because their depression had already improved.…”

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Primary Care and the Role of Depression Severity and Treatment Attendance

“…So far, personality traits as predictors of mindfulness outcomes had been less considered. Findings from recent studies seem to suggest that trait consciousness is related to meditation and program adherence (Canby et al, 2021 ; Cillessen et al, 2020 ). However, this is the first time that the relation between personality traits as measured by the PiCD and treatment outcomes of MBCT is explored.…”