Brief Mindfulness Training for Negative Affectivity (1 CE)

Number of Credits: 1

This course is for: Clinical Psychologists, LMFTs, and Counselors

Course By: Rachel Schoor

Content By: Schumer, M. C., Lindsay, E. K., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86(7), 569. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000324

Course description: The field of research around brief mindfulness-based interventions has been rapidly expanding within the last ten years, with some preliminary evidence that these interventions may improve mental health outcomes, such as negative affectability. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of brief mindfulness interventions in reducing negative affectivity. Researchers identified 65 research studies that met study inclusion criteria, which collectively included 5,489 participants. Most of the participants were female (64.64%) and had no prior experience with meditation. The average age was 24.62 years old. The meta-analyses indicated a small but statistically significant impact of brief mindfulness training on reducing negative affectivity compared to control programs (g=.14, p=001, Q between, p=.03). No significant effect size differences were found between clinical and non-clinical samples. However, once publication bias was accounted for the overall effect size of brief mindfulness interventions on negative affectivity was significanly reduced (g=.04). This meta-anlyses suggests that brief mindfulness interventions may have the potential to modestly reduce negative affectivity. However, given that the quantitative analyses indicated the presence of publication bias there is a need for more rigorous studies of brief mindfulness-based interventions.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Identify at least 3 moderators which were examined in the study
2. Identify at least 3 results of the study
3. Identify at least 3 strenghts and 3 weaknesses of the study

Course outline:

• Read and understand Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis
• Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives
• Consider the strenghts and weaknesses of the study
• Work through the post-test questions; keep in mind that answer selections should be derived from the respective article
• Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to better understand the relationship between brief mindfulness interventions and negative affectivity

Approvals: