Self-administered mindfulness interventions reduce stress in a large, randomized controlled multi-site study

Alessandro Sparacio; Hans IJzerman; Ivan Ropovik; Filippo Giorgini; Christoph Spiessens; Bert N. Uchino; Joshua Landvatter; Tracey Tacana; Sandra J. Diller; Jaye L. Derrick; Joahana Segundo; Jace D. Pierce; Robert M. Ross; Zoë Francis; Amanda LaBoucane; Christine Ma-Kellams; Maire B. Ford; Kathleen Schmidt; Celia C. Wong; Wendy C. Higgins; Bryant M. Stone; Samantha K. Stanley; Gianni Ribeiro; Paul T. Fuglestad; Valerie Jaklin; Andrea Kübler; Philipp Ziebell; Crystal L. Jewell; Yulia Kovas; Mahnoosh Allahghadri; Charlotte Fransham; Michael F. Baranski; Hannah Burgess; Annika B.E. Benz; Maysa DeSousa; Catherine E. Nylin; Janae C. Brooks; Caitlyn M. Goldsmith; Jessica M. Benson; Siobhán M. Griffin; Stephen Dunne; William E. Davis; Tam J. Watermeyer; William B. Meese; Jennifer L. Howell; Laurel Standiford Reyes; Megan G. Strickland; Sally S. Dickerson; Samantha Pescatore; Shayna Skakoon-Sparling; Zachary I. Wunder; Martin V. Day; Shawna Brenton; Audrey H. Linden; Christopher E. Hawk; Léan V. O’Brien; Tenzin Urgyen; Jennifer S. McDonald; Kim Lien van der Schans; Heidi Blocker; Caroline Ng Tseung-Wong; Gabriela M. Jiga-Boy

doi:10.1038/s41562-024-01907-7

Self-administered mindfulness interventions reduce stress in a large, randomized controlled multi-site study

Alessandro Sparacio
, Hans IJzerman
, Ivan Ropovik
, Filippo Giorgini
, Christoph Spiessens
, Bert N. Uchino
, Joshua Landvatter
, Tracey Tacana
, Sandra J. Diller
, Jaye L. Derrick
, Joahana Segundo
, Jace D. Pierce
, Robert M. Ross
, Zoë Francis
, Amanda LaBoucane
, Christine Ma-Kellams
, Maire B. Ford
, Kathleen Schmidt
, Celia C. Wong
, Wendy C. Higgins

Bryant M. Stone, Samantha K. Stanley, Gianni Ribeiro, Paul T. Fuglestad, Valerie Jaklin, Andrea Kübler, Philipp Ziebell, Crystal L. Jewell, Yulia Kovas, Mahnoosh Allahghadri, Charlotte Fransham, Michael F. Baranski, Hannah Burgess, Annika B.E. Benz, Maysa DeSousa, Catherine E. Nylin, Janae C. Brooks, Caitlyn M. Goldsmith, Jessica M. Benson, Siobhán M. Griffin, Stephen Dunne, William E. Davis, Tam J. Watermeyer, William B. Meese, Jennifer L. Howell, Laurel Standiford Reyes, Megan G. Strickland, Sally S. Dickerson, Samantha Pescatore, Shayna Skakoon-Sparling, Zachary I. Wunder, Martin V. Day, Shawna Brenton, Audrey H. Linden, Christopher E. Hawk, Léan V. O’Brien, Tenzin Urgyen, Jennifer S. McDonald, Kim Lien van der Schans, Heidi Blocker, Caroline Ng Tseung-Wong, Gabriela M. Jiga-Boy

Université Grenoble Alpes
Swansea University
Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
Annecy Behavioral Science Lab
Institut universitaire de France
Czech Academy of Sciences
Charles University
Slovak Academy of Sciences
University of Milan - Bicocca
Spiessens Coaching Solutions Ltd
University of Utah
Private University Seeburg Castle
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
University of Houston
Macquarie University
University of the Fraser Valley
San Jose State University
Loyola Marymount University
Ashland University
The College at Brockport, State University of New York
Johns Hopkins University
Australian National University
University of Southern Queensland
University of North Florida
University of Würzburg
Iowa State University
Goldsmiths, University of London
Pennsylvania Western University California
University of Konstanz
Springfield College
Glendale Community College
St. Olaf College
Northumbria University
Wittenberg University
University of Edinburgh
University of California
University Southern Indiana
Pace University
Toronto Metropolitan University
Wayne State University
Memorial University of Newfoundland
University College London
Open University Milton Keynes
DigiPen Institute of Technology
University of Canberra
University of Northern Iowa
Idaho State University
Radboud University Nijmegen
Eastern Oregon University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Mindfulness witnessed a substantial popularity surge in the past decade, especially as digitally self-administered interventions became available at relatively low costs. Yet, it is uncertain whether they effectively help reduce stress. In a preregistered (OSF https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/UF4JZ; retrospective registration at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06308744) multi-site study (n_sites = 37, n_participants = 2,239, 70.4% women, M_age = 22.4, s.d._age = 10.1, all fluent English speakers), we experimentally tested whether four single, standalone mindfulness exercises effectively reduced stress, using Bayesian mixed-effects models. All exercises proved to be more efficacious than the active control. We observed a mean difference of 0.27 (d = −0.56; 95% confidence interval, −0.43 to −0.69) between the control condition (M = 1.95, s.d. = 0.50) and the condition with the largest stress reduction (body scan: M = 1.68, s.d. = 0.46). Our findings suggest that mindfulness may be beneficial for reducing self-reported short-term stress for English speakers from higher-income countries.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1716-1725
Number of pages	10
Journal	Nature Human Behaviour
Volume	8
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01907-7
Publication status	Published - Sep 2024

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Sparacio, A., IJzerman, H., Ropovik, I., Giorgini, F., Spiessens, C., Uchino, B. N., Landvatter, J., Tacana, T., Diller, S. J., Derrick, J. L., Segundo, J., Pierce, J. D., Ross, R. M., Francis, Z., LaBoucane, A., Ma-Kellams, C., Ford, M. B., Schmidt, K., Wong, C. C., ... Jiga-Boy, G. M. (2024). Self-administered mindfulness interventions reduce stress in a large, randomized controlled multi-site study. Nature Human Behaviour, 8(9), 1716-1725. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01907-7

@article{34a63eda3495430e9427b33c82822fc5,

title = "Self-administered mindfulness interventions reduce stress in a large, randomized controlled multi-site study",

abstract = "Mindfulness witnessed a substantial popularity surge in the past decade, especially as digitally self-administered interventions became available at relatively low costs. Yet, it is uncertain whether they effectively help reduce stress. In a preregistered (OSF https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/UF4JZ; retrospective registration at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06308744) multi-site study (nsites = 37, nparticipants = 2,239, 70.4\% women, Mage = 22.4, s.d.age = 10.1, all fluent English speakers), we experimentally tested whether four single, standalone mindfulness exercises effectively reduced stress, using Bayesian mixed-effects models. All exercises proved to be more efficacious than the active control. We observed a mean difference of 0.27 (d = −0.56; 95\% confidence interval, −0.43 to −0.69) between the control condition (M = 1.95, s.d. = 0.50) and the condition with the largest stress reduction (body scan: M = 1.68, s.d. = 0.46). Our findings suggest that mindfulness may be beneficial for reducing self-reported short-term stress for English speakers from higher-income countries.",

author = "Alessandro Sparacio and Hans IJzerman and Ivan Ropovik and Filippo Giorgini and Christoph Spiessens and Uchino, \{Bert N.\} and Joshua Landvatter and Tracey Tacana and Diller, \{Sandra J.\} and Derrick, \{Jaye L.\} and Joahana Segundo and Pierce, \{Jace D.\} and Ross, \{Robert M.\} and Zo{\"e} Francis and Amanda LaBoucane and Christine Ma-Kellams and Ford, \{Maire B.\} and Kathleen Schmidt and Wong, \{Celia C.\} and Higgins, \{Wendy C.\} and Stone, \{Bryant M.\} and Stanley, \{Samantha K.\} and Gianni Ribeiro and Fuglestad, \{Paul T.\} and Valerie Jaklin and Andrea K{\"u}bler and Philipp Ziebell and Jewell, \{Crystal L.\} and Yulia Kovas and Mahnoosh Allahghadri and Charlotte Fransham and Baranski, \{Michael F.\} and Hannah Burgess and Benz, \{Annika B.E.\} and Maysa DeSousa and Nylin, \{Catherine E.\} and Brooks, \{Janae C.\} and Goldsmith, \{Caitlyn M.\} and Benson, \{Jessica M.\} and Griffin, \{Siobh{\'a}n M.\} and Stephen Dunne and Davis, \{William E.\} and Watermeyer, \{Tam J.\} and Meese, \{William B.\} and Howell, \{Jennifer L.\} and \{Standiford Reyes\}, Laurel and Strickland, \{Megan G.\} and Dickerson, \{Sally S.\} and Samantha Pescatore and Shayna Skakoon-Sparling and Wunder, \{Zachary I.\} and Day, \{Martin V.\} and Shawna Brenton and Linden, \{Audrey H.\} and Hawk, \{Christopher E.\} and O{\textquoteright}Brien, \{L{\'e}an V.\} and Tenzin Urgyen and McDonald, \{Jennifer S.\} and \{van der Schans\}, \{Kim Lien\} and Heidi Blocker and \{Ng Tseung-Wong\}, Caroline and Jiga-Boy, \{Gabriela M.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024. corrected publication 2024.",

year = "2024",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1038/s41562-024-01907-7",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

pages = "1716--1725",

journal = "Nature Human Behaviour",

issn = "2397-3374",

number = "9",

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Sparacio, A, IJzerman, H, Ropovik, I, Giorgini, F, Spiessens, C, Uchino, BN, Landvatter, J, Tacana, T, Diller, SJ, Derrick, JL, Segundo, J, Pierce, JD, Ross, RM, Francis, Z, LaBoucane, A, Ma-Kellams, C, Ford, MB, Schmidt, K, Wong, CC, Higgins, WC, Stone, BM, Stanley, SK, Ribeiro, G, Fuglestad, PT, Jaklin, V, Kübler, A, Ziebell, P, Jewell, CL, Kovas, Y, Allahghadri, M, Fransham, C, Baranski, MF, Burgess, H, Benz, ABE, DeSousa, M, Nylin, CE, Brooks, JC, Goldsmith, CM, Benson, JM, Griffin, SM, Dunne, S, Davis, WE, Watermeyer, TJ, Meese, WB, Howell, JL, Standiford Reyes, L, Strickland, MG, Dickerson, SS, Pescatore, S, Skakoon-Sparling, S, Wunder, ZI, Day, MV, Brenton, S, Linden, AH, Hawk, CE, O’Brien, LV, Urgyen, T, McDonald, JS, van der Schans, KL, Blocker, H, Ng Tseung-Wong, C & Jiga-Boy, GM 2024, 'Self-administered mindfulness interventions reduce stress in a large, randomized controlled multi-site study', Nature Human Behaviour, vol. 8, no. 9, pp. 1716-1725. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01907-7

TY - JOUR

T1 - Self-administered mindfulness interventions reduce stress in a large, randomized controlled multi-site study

AU - Sparacio, Alessandro

AU - IJzerman, Hans

AU - Ropovik, Ivan

AU - Giorgini, Filippo

AU - Spiessens, Christoph

AU - Uchino, Bert N.

AU - Landvatter, Joshua

AU - Tacana, Tracey

AU - Diller, Sandra J.

AU - Derrick, Jaye L.

AU - Segundo, Joahana

AU - Pierce, Jace D.

AU - Ross, Robert M.

AU - Francis, Zoë

AU - LaBoucane, Amanda

AU - Ma-Kellams, Christine

AU - Ford, Maire B.

AU - Schmidt, Kathleen

AU - Wong, Celia C.

AU - Higgins, Wendy C.

AU - Stone, Bryant M.

AU - Stanley, Samantha K.

AU - Ribeiro, Gianni

AU - Fuglestad, Paul T.

AU - Jaklin, Valerie

AU - Kübler, Andrea

AU - Ziebell, Philipp

AU - Jewell, Crystal L.

AU - Kovas, Yulia

AU - Allahghadri, Mahnoosh

AU - Fransham, Charlotte

AU - Baranski, Michael F.

AU - Burgess, Hannah

AU - Benz, Annika B.E.

AU - DeSousa, Maysa

AU - Nylin, Catherine E.

AU - Brooks, Janae C.

AU - Goldsmith, Caitlyn M.

AU - Benson, Jessica M.

AU - Griffin, Siobhán M.

AU - Dunne, Stephen

AU - Davis, William E.

AU - Watermeyer, Tam J.

AU - Meese, William B.

AU - Howell, Jennifer L.

AU - Standiford Reyes, Laurel

AU - Strickland, Megan G.

AU - Dickerson, Sally S.

AU - Pescatore, Samantha

AU - Skakoon-Sparling, Shayna

AU - Wunder, Zachary I.

AU - Day, Martin V.

AU - Brenton, Shawna

AU - Linden, Audrey H.

AU - Hawk, Christopher E.

AU - O’Brien, Léan V.

AU - Urgyen, Tenzin

AU - McDonald, Jennifer S.

AU - van der Schans, Kim Lien

AU - Blocker, Heidi

AU - Ng Tseung-Wong, Caroline

AU - Jiga-Boy, Gabriela M.

PY - 2024/9

Y1 - 2024/9

N2 - Mindfulness witnessed a substantial popularity surge in the past decade, especially as digitally self-administered interventions became available at relatively low costs. Yet, it is uncertain whether they effectively help reduce stress. In a preregistered (OSF https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/UF4JZ; retrospective registration at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06308744) multi-site study (nsites = 37, nparticipants = 2,239, 70.4% women, Mage = 22.4, s.d.age = 10.1, all fluent English speakers), we experimentally tested whether four single, standalone mindfulness exercises effectively reduced stress, using Bayesian mixed-effects models. All exercises proved to be more efficacious than the active control. We observed a mean difference of 0.27 (d = −0.56; 95% confidence interval, −0.43 to −0.69) between the control condition (M = 1.95, s.d. = 0.50) and the condition with the largest stress reduction (body scan: M = 1.68, s.d. = 0.46). Our findings suggest that mindfulness may be beneficial for reducing self-reported short-term stress for English speakers from higher-income countries.

AB - Mindfulness witnessed a substantial popularity surge in the past decade, especially as digitally self-administered interventions became available at relatively low costs. Yet, it is uncertain whether they effectively help reduce stress. In a preregistered (OSF https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/UF4JZ; retrospective registration at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06308744) multi-site study (nsites = 37, nparticipants = 2,239, 70.4% women, Mage = 22.4, s.d.age = 10.1, all fluent English speakers), we experimentally tested whether four single, standalone mindfulness exercises effectively reduced stress, using Bayesian mixed-effects models. All exercises proved to be more efficacious than the active control. We observed a mean difference of 0.27 (d = −0.56; 95% confidence interval, −0.43 to −0.69) between the control condition (M = 1.95, s.d. = 0.50) and the condition with the largest stress reduction (body scan: M = 1.68, s.d. = 0.46). Our findings suggest that mindfulness may be beneficial for reducing self-reported short-term stress for English speakers from higher-income countries.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85195668868

U2 - 10.1038/s41562-024-01907-7

DO - 10.1038/s41562-024-01907-7

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85195668868

SN - 2397-3374

VL - 8

SP - 1716

EP - 1725

JO - Nature Human Behaviour

JF - Nature Human Behaviour

IS - 9

ER -

Self-administered mindfulness interventions reduce stress in a large, randomized controlled multi-site study

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