Abstract
Objectives
This study sought to identify the temporal order in which mindfulness facets develop during Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and the effect of early changes on later changes in these facets and their relation to changes in depression, anxiety, and stress.
Methods
This longitudinal study of 147 adults participating in a MBSR program examined relationships between components of mindfulness, self-compassion and measures of depression, anxiety, and stress. Self-report measures were administered pre-course, mid-course, end-of-course, and 3-months post-course.
Results
Initial improvements in decentering, non-reactivity, and self-compassion were observed early in the MBSR course (p-values < 0.05), followed by later changes in observing, acting with awareness, and nonjudging. Bivariate latent growth curve modelling suggested changes in the mindfulness components of decentering and nonreactivity coincided with decreases in anxiety and stress (p-values < 0.05). However, in a path analysis, changes in self-compassion appeared to uniquely contribute to changes in depression and anxiety, over and above the effects of other mindfulness components (p-values < 0.05). These changes in self-compassion were associated with simultaneous and precursory change in non-reactivity and non-judgment.
Conclusions
These findings elucidate the possible temporal order of change in mindfulness facets through MBSR. Self-compassion may be a prominent mechanism of change in the MBSR program, along with non-reactivity and decentering. However, additional longitudinal research is needed with alternate model specifications to confirm the proximal role of self-compassion in longitudinal symptom change. Results are tempered by a relatively short period of longitudinal observation with a possible nonresponse bias.
Preregistration
Because the trial was conceived prior to 2009, pre-registration was not possible. However, the trial was registered on anzctr.org.au after data collection and analysis. [Title: “Mechanisms of mindfulness: A longitudinal observational study of the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on depression, anxiety, and stress among participants in a MBSR program”, Identifier: ACTRN12623000485639].
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Data Availability
This study obtained ethics board approval and was closed prior to the advent of open science/public data sharing. Therefore, data are only available upon individual request to the authors, pending further IRB review and approval for such requests.
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Acknowledgements
KD and AB thank Alan Taylor for expert advice on experimental design and statistical analysis for the original draft of this paper.
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Karen M. Davis: conceptualization/study design, methodology, data collection and management, original draft preparation, writing and editing, review and editing of final draft.
Curtis M. Wojcik: literature review, data management and analyses, visualization, writing and editing.
Andrew J. Baillie: study design and methodology, review and editing of original and final draft.
Elizabeth Foley: review and editing of original and final draft.
Timothea Goddard: assistance with data collection, review and editing final draft.
Mark A. Lau: review and editing of original and final draft.
Emily A. P. Haigh: review and editing of final draft.
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Davis, K.M., Wojcik, C.M., Baillie, A.J. et al. Mechanisms of Mindfulness: A Longitudinal Study of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program. Mindfulness (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02359-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02359-w