Training-related improvements in mental well-being through reduction in negative interpretation bias: A randomized trial of online socio-emotional dyadic and mindfulness interventions.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the efficacy of online mindfulness-based and partner-based socio-emotional dyadic interventions in improving depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, and resilience, while evaluating the role of negative attention and interpretation biases.
Results Summary
Both interventions reduced depression and emotion regulation difficulties, with mindfulness training specifically reducing trait anxiety and enhancing stress recovery, while socio-emotional training increased resilience and reduced negative interpretation bias. Neither intervention affected state anxiety or negative attention bias.
Population
Subclinical sample with an overrepresentation of females (n = 285).
Effective Dosage
10-week online interventions with weekly coaching sessions.
Duration
10 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
online mindfulness-based intervention | decrease | depression | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | led to reductions | #1 |
online mindfulness-based intervention | decrease | ER difficulties | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | led to reductions | #2 |
online partner-based socio-emotional dyadic intervention | decrease | depression | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | led to reductions | #3 |
online partner-based socio-emotional dyadic intervention | decrease | ER difficulties | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | led to reductions | #4 |
mindfulness training | decrease | trait anxiety | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | decreased | #5 |
socio-emotional training | increase | multidimensional resilience | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | increases were observed | #6 |
mindfulness-based training | increase | stress recovery | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | increases were observed | #7 |
socio-emotional training | decrease | negative interpretation bias | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | led to significant reductions | #8 |
socio-emotional training | decrease | depression | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | mediated reductions | #9 |
socio-emotional training | decrease | trait anxiety | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | mediated reductions | #10 |
mindfulness-based training | no change | state anxiety | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | neither training led to reductions | #11 |
mindfulness-based training | no change | negative attention bias | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | neither training led to reductions | #12 |
socio-emotional training | no change | state anxiety | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | neither training led to reductions | #13 |
socio-emotional training | no change | negative attention bias | participants in randomized controlled trial | - | neither training led to reductions | #14 |
BACKGROUND: Effects of online contemplative practices, especially partner-based practices, on psychological well-being remain mixed, with sparse understanding of potential affective-cognitive mechanisms. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of two online contemplative interventions in improving depression, anxiety, emotion regulation (ER), and resilience, and to evaluate the mechanistic role of negative attention and interpretation biases. METHODS: Employing a randomized controlled design (n = 285), we compared the efficacy of 10-week online mindfulness-based and partner-based socio-emotional dyadic interventions, both supported by weekly coaching sessions. Mental health aspects were assessed using validated self-report measures and negative biases using the mouse-contingent Scrambled Sentences Task. RESULTS: Both interventions, compared to waitlist control, led to reductions in depression and ER difficulties, while trait anxiety decreased only after mindfulness training. Increases in multidimensional resilience were observed only after socio-emotional training and in stress recovery only after mindfulness-based training, both compared to waitlist control. Socio-emotional training led to significant reductions in negative interpretation bias and this mediated reductions in depression and trait anxiety. Neither training led to reductions in state anxiety or negative attention bias. LIMITATIONS: The subclinical nature and overrepresentation of females in the sample limits generalizability. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that online mindfulness-based and socio-emotional partner-based interventions, supported by online coaching sessions, can reduce depression and ER difficulties. Though mindfulness practice reduced trait anxiety and enhanced stress recovery, socio-emotional training increased multidimensional resilience. Socio-emotional training reduced negative interpretation bias, which emerged as an intervention-specific mechanism. These findings highlight the potential benefits of online contemplative intervention approaches for psychological well-being.